Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Sterling, VA

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002 FXUS61 KLWX 241342 AFDLWX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 942 AM EDT Fri May 24 2024 .SYNOPSIS... A cold front will drop into the Mid-Atlantic tonight, then return northward as a warm front Saturday afternoon. The front will then meander north to south over the weekend, before being overtaken by a much stronger cold front Monday night. High pressure looks to build toward the area by the middle of next week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
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An MCV currently tracking across western Virginia will continue to spread light to moderate showers for those along and south of I-66/U.S. 50. Additional shower/t-storm activity is possible in the afternoon across southwest areas before shortwave ridging/subsidence builds in. Today`s highs will rise into the upper 70s to low 80s, with upper 60s to mid 70s in the mountains. Should remain quiet tonight under mid-level subsidence. Patchy dense fog is possible especially in areas that receive rain. Nighttime lows will be in the low/mid 60s, locally falling into the mid/upper 50s across the mountains.
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&& .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... Shortwave-ridging is now expected to hold through much of the day Saturday keeping most areas dry east of the Blue Ridge Mountains. We`ll have to watch potential convection upstream over the OH Valley and lower Great Lks as it could try to make it into the Appalachian region. Model guidance continues to indicate further low-mid level height rises through the day Sunday ahead of deepening trough over the Upper Midwest. This should act to suppress convection in most areas. However, isold mountain afternoon storms are still possible. Sunday night...There has been some significant change in the model guidance compared to the past two to three days. Some guidance is now indicating a potential squall line racing through the area late Sunday night/early Monday morning. Synoptically, models are showing strong height falls and 925-850 mb moisture advection into the area. So, something to watch next couple of days since this scenario has lacked consistency the past few days. A more substantial severe wx threat still appears on track for Memorial Day. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... A mid-level SW trough will pivot through the Mid-Atlantic on Monday - Memorial Day - during peak heating bringing a sfc cold front to the region, and change in airmass come Tuesday. A favorable environment for SVR thunderstorms exist with some of the highest instability forecast of the season thus far (2-3k of SBCAPE) coupled with 35-45 kts of effective shear. Modest H5 height falls during peak heating along with any terrain circulations or bay breezes could result in thunderstorms. Machine-learning guidance from the NSSL has ~30% probabilities of SVR wx (1" hail, 50+ kts of wind, or tornado) within 25 miles of a point across the CWA. Monday is definitely a day to monitor given the overall synoptic environment and model output soundings, which do show the potential for supercells. Also of concern is the abnormally moist airmass, with model output PWATs of ~1.7-2" across the CWA, which is ~150-200% of climo norms for late May. This could result in a flood/flash flood threat. Will continue to monitor over the next couple of days. CAPE decreases significantly behind the front Monday, though a passing SW trough could bring additional rain showers Tuesday into Wednesday. Does not look like a washout either day. Behind this wave, dew points will fall into 40s come next Thursday with highs in the upper 60s to low 70s. This may be the least humid day until September across the area. && .AVIATION /14Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... Sct t-storms possible near KCHO. Other TAF sites should only see showers at best with BKN-OVC 060-080 cigs. Should remain dry Sat and Sun with only isold convection. By Monday, a cold front approaches from the west and may bring strong to severe thunderstorms to the terminals through the afternoon and evening hours before dissipating. A passing shower Tuesday may cause a brief restriction. && .MARINE... SCA conditions are not expected until Sun night. Those on the waters for Memorial Day Monday should have a way to receive weather alerts, as strong to severe thunderstorms appear likely during the afternoon/evening. && .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
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Water levels are expected to gradually rise into the weekend given south to southeasterly warm advection. Many tidal sites see their higher of the two high tides reach Action stage. Further increases are likely into Monday/Memorial Day which could lead to some coastal flooding.
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&& .LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... DC...None. MD...None. VA...None. WV...None. MARINE...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...LFR NEAR TERM...LFR/BRO SHORT TERM...LFR LONG TERM...CPB AVIATION...LFR/CPB MARINE...LFR/CPB TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...BRO