Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Blacksburg, VA

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955 FXUS61 KRNK 281829 AFDRNK Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 229 PM EDT Tue May 28 2024 .SYNOPSIS... A series of upper disturbances will pass across today into Wednesday that could allow for isolated shower and thunderstorms in parts of the far north and west. Otherwise mainly dry and less humid weather is expected to persist through the work week. The next main chance for scattered showers and thunderstorms looks to be over the weekend. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... As of 1045 AM EDT Tuesday... Key Message: - Little change to probability of thunderstorms in the far western mountains. The cold front has pushed into southeast Virginia this morning. Surface points in the mountains have lowered in the 50s. Stratocumulus was developing west of the Blue Ridge. Based on the SPC-HRRR and forecast of when the cap will break, do not expect to see precipitation develop until after 1PM/17Z. No changes made to high temperatures at this time. Previous discussion: As of 230 AM EDT Tuesday... Early this morning there is a cluster of showers pushing into the far SWERN CWA perhaps associated with a weak low level wave. This should diminish here in the next few hours or so. Expect mostly clear to partly cloudy skies for the vast majority of the area today as we mainly stay in a drier post frontal airmass though still east of the broad upper trough axis. A weak amplification and perturbation traversing the flow may allow for isolated convection in the far northern mountains for the afternoon. Will need to monitor how some of the CAM guidance trends as the Nam nest looks to be an outlier with an area of perhaps more organized convection propagating into more of the mountains this evening, though quickly diminishing in coverage/intensity. Max temps today look to mostly range from the upper 60s to mid 70s in the mountains and low to mid 80s in the Piedmont. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...
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As of 130 PM EDT Tuesday... Key Messages: 1. Scattered showers in the mountains Wednesday and Thursday, otherwise dry through the period. 2. Below normal temperatures. A large upper low will be centered over eastern Canada through the end of the workweek. A shortwave will rotate through the base of the trough Wednesday night, which may spark some scattered showers in the western mountains, though this activity will quickly wane after sunset with the loss of daytime heating. Another wave traverses the trough Thursday afternoon, and could bring additional chances of showers, though most of the shower activity at this time looks to be much farther east, near coastal VA and NC. The drier airmass over the region will help to limit any showers in the area. A broad area of surface high pressure will build in as the trough axis shifts east of the area by late Thursday and through Friday, which will keep Friday dry. The surface high that will become situated overhead builds in from the north, bringing a cooler and drier airmass to the region. Winds will be generally northwesterly through the forecast period, but turn easterly as the high moves in. Below normal temperatures, northwesterly winds, and lower dewpoints will make it feel cool for the end of the month. Lows will be in the 40s and 50s, possibly dropping into the low 40s for the typical cold spots by Friday morning.
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&& .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
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As of 130 PM EDT Tuesday... Key Messages: 1. Temperatures on a warming trend, and dry weather through the weekend. 2. Rain chances increase by Sunday and into next work week. Surface high pressure will be settled over much of the eastern US through most of the weekend, moving eastward and offshore by late Sunday. Mid level flow transitions to more zonal by Sunday, with a shortwave trough expected to move along it and into the area late in the weekend, while an area of surface low pressure heads eastward into the northern Mid Atlantic. Return flow off the Atlantic from the high as it tracks eastward will increase moisture in the region, and with the passage of the shortwave, expecting chances for showers and possible thunderstorms to return to the area by Sunday afternoon. Chances for afternoon showers and storms continue Monday and Tuesday, though confidence is lower on timing and coverage, given the spread in the long range deterministic guidance. Subsidence from the surface high and ample daytime heating will start temperatures on a warming trend through the forecast period, and highs are expected to climb back to seasonal normals, in the 70s to 80s, and lows in the 50s to 60s.
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&& .AVIATION /19Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 650 AM EDT Tuesday... Mainly VFR conditions through period though some MVFR cigs could flirt with KBLF and KLWB this morning. Otherwise expect FEW/SCT cu field near 4-5 kft today into this evening. Could have some alto coverage by this evening also. Some isolated SHRA/TSRA possible mainly this afternoon near KLWB but chance not high enough to include in TAF. Winds generally light out of the west this morning, increasing to 7-11 kts during the day (gusts near 18-20 kts for KBLF and KLWB), then light west to calm this evening into tonight. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK... VFR tonight through much of the week. There is a low chance for showers and thunderstorms across WV Wednesday. Patchy fog with periods of MVFR/LIFR will be possible in the mornings near mountain and river valleys. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...AB/WP NEAR TERM...AB/AMS SHORT TERM...AS LONG TERM...AS AVIATION...AB/RAB