Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Raleigh/Durham, NC

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897 FXUS62 KRAH 270708 AFDRAH Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Raleigh NC 308 AM EDT Mon May 27 2024 .SYNOPSIS... A cold front will approach late today and move through the region Monday night. Dry high pressure will settle into the region toward the middle of next week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 930 PM Sunday... The severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 11 PM for our northwestern counties. Satellite and radar imagery reveals a well- defined MCV northeast of Mount Airy over far south-central VA. As such, the strongest storms are currently along and east of this feature, stretching from the northeast/northwest Piedmont and southwest to just northwest of Charlotte. Based on latest trends, the main severe risk looks to be across the northern and northwest Piedmont. However, a strong line also exists just northwest of Stanly County and this is roughly moving ESE. Damaging straight line winds appear the main risk into late this evening. As the late evening wears on, it is difficult to say how the storms may hold together as they track into the Triangle, Sandhills, and Coastal Plain. Most CAMs have the storms either splitting to the north and south of the Triangle, though this will be something to watch for. Certainly convective inhibition will play a role as the night wears on, limiting overall storm coverage. We do think that the storms should start to dissipate after midnight as the MCV pushes to the east. However, upstream convection currently over MO/IL/KY is forecast to reach portions of the southern Appalachians by early Mon and could reach the Triad toward sunrise, though convective inhibition will keep most activity sub-severe until the better chance comes Mon aftn/eve. Lows should dip into the mid 60s to around 70, with some patchy fog possible. && .SHORT TERM /TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT/...
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As of 305 AM Monday... Aloft, a s/w should track through SC Tue then out over the Atlantic Tue night as the base of the trough moves over central NC. Meanwhile at the surface, the cold front should be over the NC Piedmont by daybreak Tue, then continue eastward through the area through the day and offshore Tue night. Expect NW flow in the wake of the front Tue, however the arrival of cooler air may be delayed until Tue night. Cannot rule out a shower/storm over the southern/central Coastal Plain on Tue ahead of the cold front, but that activity will move out with the passage of the front and dry weather is expected area-wide Tue night. Highs Tue should generally range from low/mid 80s north and northwest to upper 80s south and southeast. Lows Tue night will depend on the arrival of cooler air, but for now expect upper 50s north to low/mid 60s south.
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&& .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
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As of 230 AM Monday... An upper level trough will amplify as it progresses eastward over and through the mid-Atlantic and Carolinas. Several s/w disturbances will pass over the area as they swing through the trough, however for now they still appear relatively moisture-starved. The trough should shift offshore over the weekend, with the sub-tropical ridge slowly progressing eastward through the area behind it. At the surface, with the cold front offshore by early Wed, a trough may linger over central NC Wed before cool high pressure builds in from the west Wed night through Fri. The high should be over central NC Fri night/Sat. Forecast confidence decreases beyond Sat as model solutions diverge. For now, expect largely dry weather through Sat night, although will have to keep an eye on the passing s/w disturbances for potential precipitation development. Temperatures should be near normal for Wed, then near to below normal through the remainder of the forecast period.
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&& .AVIATION /06Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... As of 205 AM Monday... Scattered showers have begun to develop south and west of the Triad terminals (GSO/INT) towards CLT and are expected to lift northeast through 09z. Isolated instances of lightning will be possible, but mainly showers are expected at this time. A lull in precipitation is expected from 09-12z. A mature MCS is moving through the lower Ohio and Tennessee Valley and is forecast to track ESE and reach the Triad terminals around 13z. Model guidance suggest a weakening trend as it traverses the mountains and have opted to keep only showers mentioned, but thunder, heavy rain, and gusty winds could certainly be possible if it is able to maintain its strength into the NC Piedmont. Surface winds will become gusty out of the southwest late this morning through the afternoon hours with a redevelopment of showers/storms, some severe, during the late afternoon into the evening hours. Outlook: The first of several cold fronts will move through late Mon night into Tues morning with high pressure building in behind and VFR conditions expected through Fri. && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...Badgett NEAR TERM...Kren SHORT TERM...KC LONG TERM...KC AVIATION...Swiggett