Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Knoxville/Tri Cities, TN

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301 FXUS64 KMRX 020206 AFDMRX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Morristown TN 1006 PM EDT Sat Jun 1 2024 ...New UPDATE... .UPDATE...
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Issued at 948 PM EDT Sat Jun 1 2024 Minor tweaks to the forecast; mainly PoPs with filling in Schc with Chc`s and adding more lkly`s to the southern plateau in the morning. On and off showers will continue overnight as activity moves to the NE. Have not seen any lightning strikes. CAPE creeps in and increases early Sunday into the afternoon from the west and southwest. If the 00Z HRRR materializes, may see some pre-dawn showers and a couple thunderstorms for the southern plateau and valley. Otherwise, short term forecast outlined below is still our thinking for the nearest term. KS
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&& .SHORT TERM... (This evening through Sunday) Issued at 304 PM EDT Sat Jun 1 2024 Key Messages: 1. Scattered showers and a very low chance of thunder tonight and Sunday. 2. Temperatures near or slightly below normal with troughing and cloud cover. Discussion: We`ll continue to be in a weak longwave troughing pattern across the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys with subtle shortwaves moving across the region bringing periods of light rain showers and a low chance of thunder. Instability is limited with poor mid-level lapse rates, but MLCAPE of 1000 to 1500 J/Kg on Sunday afternoon, along with effective bulk shear of around 20 kt will be sufficient for some organized non-severe convection. The highest precip coverage is expected to be east of I-75 on Sunday afternoon. && .LONG TERM... (Sunday night through next Saturday) Issued at 304 PM EDT Sat Jun 1 2024 Key Messages: 1. Daily showers and thunderstorms are expected with the best coverage on Wednesday and Thursday and less coverage Friday to Saturday. 2. Temperatures will rise above normal by mid-week with a reduction to below normal by Friday. Sunday Night through Wednesday At the start of the period, fairly weak flow will be in place with mid/upper ridging just to our west and a shortwave having pushed to our east. Surface high pressure will be gradually receding to our north and east. Embedded shortwaves and lingering moisture will be sufficient for lingering showers and storms from Sunday, but this activity will likely diminish with the loss of daytime heating. Additional development is possible on Monday, but this coverage is expected to be more limited due to increased ridging aloft and less moisture evidenced by PWAT values closer to 1 inch. Activity will likely be more focused along the terrain. Otherwise, this trend will promote warmer conditions compared to recent days. By Tuesday, the environment will become more conducive for convection. Ridging will remain in place for much of the day, but increasing troughing will be noted to the north and west, in addition to more southerly flow and increasing moisture. The overall wind profile and shear will still be fairly weak, meaning convection will be driven by mostly thermodynamic means. Models expectedly differ on the extent of instability, but MLCAPE values in excess of 1,000 J/kg are likely. Overall, the threat for strong/severe convection remains low but can`t be completely ruled out if a storm becomes tall enough. By Wednesday, the exact flow pattern is more uncertain but will consist of height falls and a cold front approaching from the northwest. The flow pattern will still remain weak throughout the layer with most indications suggesting deep-layer shear of only around 20 kts. The thermodynamics, however, will be more notable with MLCAPE likely exceeding 1,500 J/kg, especially in western portions of the area. Current data suggests the afternoon to evening being the most likely time of storms. Based on these indications, potential for strong to severe storms is certainly higher than on Tuesday but still somewhat uncertain. It should also be noted that PWAT values will be approaching the 1.7 to 1.8 inch range, meaning that efficient rainfall rates are possible, which could raise concern for flooding. This will still be dependent on how much rain is seen earlier in the period. Based on these indications, low probability HWO wording will be maintained with consideration for inclusion as we get closer. Thursday through Saturday By Thursday, the pattern becomes less clear with models suggesting either a secondary frontal boundary developing to our north or strengthening of the aforementioned one. Regardless, the front is expected move towards the area, which will keep rain chances elevated. The overall trend is for lessened instability and moisture, so the threat for strong/severe storms and flooding will be lower. By Friday, it is likely that the frontal boundary will be near or south of the area with northwesterly flow aloft. This will promote a drop in temperatures to slightly below normal with limited rain chances. By Saturday, the flow becomes more zonal with increasing moisture from the south and west. This will be sufficient for additional low-end rain chances. && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 731 PM EDT Sat Jun 1 2024 VCSH will generally persist tonight and into tomorrow with increased chances of a thunderstorm or two for CHA and TYS tomorrow. This is reflected with a PROB30. Showers haven`t quite reached TRI yet, but will in the next couple of hours. TRI also expected to stay VFR through the period and may not see a thunderstorm. However, CHA and TYS CIGS may drop to MVFR overnight and in the morning. CIGS forecast to improve to VFR by mid- afternoon. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
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Chattanooga Airport, TN 64 82 66 87 / 60 40 10 10 Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport, TN 62 79 64 84 / 50 40 20 20 Oak Ridge, TN 61 79 64 85 / 50 40 20 10 Tri Cities Airport, TN 58 77 61 82 / 40 60 30 30
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&& .MRX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NC...NONE. TN...NONE. VA...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...JB LONG TERM....BW AVIATION...KS