Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Blacksburg, VA

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888 FXUS61 KRNK 301806 AFDRNK Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 206 PM EDT Thu May 30 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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High pressure over the Great Lakes will gradually track across the Mid Atlantic region tonight through Saturday then offshore by Sunday. Dry weather with unseasonably cool temperatures will continue into the weekend. Showers and thunderstorms return to the region for the beginning of next week.
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&& .NEAR TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/...
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As of 200 PM EDT Thursday... Key messages: - Tranquil weather continues 500MB heights rise on Friday with upper ridging over the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys. At the surface, high pressure centered over the Western Great Lakes will track southeast and will be centered over Lake Erie by Friday morning. Large diurnal range between minimum temperatures tonight and highs on Friday due to dry air mass. Lows tonight will be around 10 degrees below normal.
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&& .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... As of 500 AM EDT Thursday... Key Message: - Benign and dry weather conditions with below normal temperatures. A broad upper low anchored across eastern Canada will continue to dominate the weather conditions within the RNK CWA throughout the forecast period. A pocket of unseasonably cold air at 850mb with temperatures as low as -1C across NY/New England will dip into the central Appalachians and Mid-Atlantic through the weekend. Temperatures through the weekend will average around 10 degrees below normal for minimums and around 5 degrees below normal for maximums. A few low temperatures in the 30s are expected at locations such as Burkes Garden as well as potentially Lewisburg Friday morning and only a few degrees warmer than this Saturday morning. Normal low temperatures at this time of year are mostly in the lower to mid 50s. Otherwise, it will be a beautiful weekend with abundant sunshine and temperatures reaching the 70s in the afternoon. No precipitation is expected through the period. /Confidence Levels in Forecast Parameters/ - Moderate to High Confidence in Temperatures, - High Confidence in No Precipitation Through the Period, - Moderate Confidence in Wind Direction and Speed. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... As of 515 AM EST Thursday... Key Messages: 1). Increasingly unsettled weather pattern evolves through the period. 2). Precipitation chances increase through the period, but confidence in timing is low. Upper and surface ridging over the weekend will give way to a flatter zonal flow. A series of disturbances embedded within this increasingly zonal flow will impinge upon an increasingly unstable air mass. The Gulf will become wide open as well during this time frame. Conditions will become much more favorable for showers and thunderstorms through the period. While there are no major synoptic systems slated to cross the area during this time frame, diurnal convection will definitely be on the upswing. However confidence in timing and amounts of precipitation is low at this point. The models have trended slower with the moisture and disturbances reaching the forecast area, so have favored lower pops a category or so during the first half of the extended period at least. Western areas will definitely have the best chance for precipitation through the period, with eastern chances the least. Overall QPF looks to be low at this point. Temperatures will gradually return closer to normal, especially high temperatures with lows mostly in the 50s and high temperatures generally in the 70s mountains to lower and mid 80s elsewhere. /Confidence Levels in Forecast Parameters/ - Moderate Confidence in Temperatures, - Low Confidence in Precipitation Probabilities, - Moderate Confidence in Wind Direction and Speed, - Low to Moderate Confidence in Thunderstorm Potential. && .AVIATION /18Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
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As of 200 PM EDT Thursday... VFR conditions tonight and Friday. 500MB heights rise on Friday with upper ridging over the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys. At the surface, high pressure centered over the Western Great Lakes will track southeast and will be centered over Lake Erie by Friday morning. Northwest wind gusts of 15 to 20 knots will continue until this evening. Wind speeds then diminish as high pressure cover the area. Lows tonight will be around 10 degrees below normal and that cooler air will produce patchy MVFR over area rivers and lakes. Any fog that develops overnight will dissipate quickly after sunrise on Friday. High clouds will fill in from the west over the mountains Friday afternoon. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK... VFR much of the week, aside from potential fog at LWB/BCB early in the mornings. Storms may bring sub-VFR Sunday afternoon through Tuesday.
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&& .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...AMS NEAR TERM...AMS SHORT TERM...RAB LONG TERM...RAB AVIATION...AMS/BMG