Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Sterling, VA

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572 FXUS61 KLWX 050218 AFDLWX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 1018 PM EDT Tue Jun 4 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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An upper-level ridge remains centered overhead. Unsettled weather returns for the whole forecast area Wednesday and Thursday as a series of fronts cross the region. Precipitation chances decrease on Friday in the wake of the cold front. A slow moving upper trough approaches the area from the Great Lakes this weekend leading to more unsettled conditions.
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&& .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 7 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING/...
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While most areas which saw earlier convection have seen it wane, some renewed activity is evident on local radar imagery just west of Fauquier County. With some elevated instability noted on the RAP objective analysis, these could persist a couple of hours. Otherwise, any convective threats should wane overnight. Similar to previous nights, patchy fog development is possible, particularly where showers and storms occurred in the afternoon and evening. Lows fall into the 60s to low 70s.
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&& .SHORT TERM /7 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... A potent upper low will dive into the Great Lakes region Wednesday into Wednesday night, eventually bringing a cold front through on Thursday morning. The warm front will lift through the region by mid-late Wednesday morning, likely spawning an initial line of convection. There is a lot of uncertainty regarding the amount of instability that will be available, owing to morning cloudcover. However, mean CAPE values look to be on the order of 1000-1500 J/kg of CAPE. The shear values to go along with this stay below 30 knots, as much of the upper- level energy passes well to our north. This would lead to a lesser severe threat tomorrow. However, the flash flooding threat is on the increase. Looking at forecast soundings for tomorrow, there are plenty of ingredients present to support a flash flood threat. First off, PWATS are going to be on the order of 1.8-2" area-wide once the warm front pushes through. Additionally, forecast soundings show long and skinny CAPE profiles. The environment will be very efficient at producing heavy rainfall tomorrow, so any storm that does develop could drop a couple of inches very quickly. Have held off on watch issuance at this time due to uncertainty in exact location, but could see the need for one in a future update. After this, there may be a brief lull for a few hours before a second line of convection develops along the pre-frontal trough. This line will be very progressive and move from west to east, but will be within the same environment conducive to heavy rainfall. So a flash flood threat remains as that moves through during the evening hours. At least some spotty convection could continue into the overnight hours. Low temperatures only drop to around 70 for most, so a very warm night expected once again. The cold front arrives Thursday morning and showers and possible thunderstorms could linger in these same areas into the evening, with chances decreasing over time as we dry behind the cold front. Low temperatures drop into the 50s to upper 60s. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... Upper level troughing will remain overhead throughout the long term period, bringing unsettled weather conditions. Daily rain chances are expected primarily in the northwestern portions of the forecast area, peaking in the afternoon with daytime heating. The best chance for precipitation will be Sunday as a cold front is pushed across the region. Highest chances for precipitation remain in the northwest portions of the forecast area, with those along and east of I-95 only having a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. There still remains a good bit of model uncertainty with the track of a cut-off upper level low pressure system navigates eastward. Where the low ends up going will dictate which areas see highest precipitation chances and how much precipitation each area receives. Temperatures each day will be in the 70s to low 80s for most with those at higher elevations staying in the 60s. Overnight lows will dip into 50s to low 60s. && .AVIATION /02Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
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Low clouds move in late tonight into Wednesday morning, and some areas could even see some patchy fog. This would be most likely in areas that manage to got some rain this afternoon. Numerous showers and thunderstorms will bring restrictions to the terminals on Wednesday, with the best chance in the afternoon and evening. Some showers and possible t-storms could linger into the overnight for MRB, BWI and MTN. Conditions improve on Thursday behind a cold front. VFR conditions are expected Friday and Saturday with westerly winds blowing 5 to 10 knots. Precipitation is possible each afternoon with the highest chances being at KMRB.
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&& .MARINE...
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Any 20 knot wind gusts have waned from the composite outflow/old backdoor frontal boundary. Expect winds to stay below advisory threshold through the overnight hours. A frontal system arrives on Wednesday with gusty southerly winds over the waters approaching SCA criteria by Wednesday afternoon. Gusty winds could also occur due to thunderstorms traversing the region during the afternoon/evening hours. SCAs will likely be needed Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Winds diminish behind the cold front on Thursday. Westerly winds remain below SCA criteria on Friday over the waters. Winds remain out of the west on Saturday, with SCA criteria gusts possible in the afternoon.
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&& .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
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By Wednesday, winds will pick up a bit out of the south, which should push many areas closer to minor flood stage over the next couple of days. This will be even further enhanced by the presence of a New Moon which is set to happen on June 6th. A weak cold front crosses the area early Thursday, with the resulting west winds causing tidal anomalies to drop.
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&& .LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... DC...None. MD...None. VA...None. WV...None. MARINE...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...BRO/CJL NEAR TERM...BRO/CJL SHORT TERM...CJL LONG TERM...AVS AVIATION...AVS/BRO/CJL MARINE...AVS/BRO/CJL TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...BRO/CJL