Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Mt. Holly, NJ

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005 FXUS61 KPHI 240804 AFDPHI Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ 404 AM EDT Fri May 24 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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A cold front will stall to our south today before lifting back north this evening as a warm front. Another cold front moves through on Sunday with a stronger system impacting the area on Monday into Tuesday. A secondary cold front looks to cross the area on Wednesday into Thursday. High pressure looks to return towards the end of the week.
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&& .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
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A weak cold front lingering around the I-78 corridor will gradually push south and east reaching near or just south of the I-95 corridor by morning as it approaches Delmarva. A few showers and some isolated rumbles of thunder will be possible over the next few hours through daybreak as the front slowly shifts over SE PA into southern NJ and the Delmarva(POPs 20 to 30 percent or less). As we start off Friday, our weak cold front is forecast to stall across parts of Delmarva. At the same time, shower/storm chances increase over our southern zones as a mid-level shortwave arrives to usher in a weak surface low trekking along the frontal boundary from Virginia into the Delmarva. Showers with some isolated thunderstorms will mainly impact the Delmarva region along with southern NJ and extreme southeast PA during the morning hours. Moving into the afternoon, this weak surface low will push offshore as surface high pressure over the Great Lakes gradually builds in from the north and west, bringing in a drier airmass. Temperatures are expected to warm into the low to mid 80s for the Philly metro area and points north where clearer skies are expected. Further south where we will see the morning precipitation, cloud coverage will slow daytime heating and likely limit the afternoon high temperatures to the upper 70s to right around 80. Tranquil weather will continue into Friday night with clear skies and light winds initially. We should be able to radiate pretty well leading to some patchy fog development over Delmarva and southern New Jersey. However, clouds will increase from south to north later in the night as the stalled front begins to lift back north across the area. This should limit the amount of cooling late, so expecting lows in the mid 50s to lower 60s with mid 60s around Philadelphia.
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&& .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
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Saturday morning should be fairly quiet as some patchy fog sits over DelMarVa early. That should lift and mix out with diurnal heating in the boundary layer. A warm front will push north of the area with the main forcing for some afternoon showers occuring late in the day moreso over PA with the best chance for precip generally over the Lehigh Valley and Poconos. With guidance trending towards a weaker system the forecast no longer calls for showers to make it to the shore which then pushes temps up through the day. Temps are anticipated to again warm into the mid 80s with low 70s along the shore. Brief high pressure develops on Sunday with the front stalled to the north of the region and it should be another pleasant day across the region with sunny skies and fair weather CU developing. Highs Sunday should also push into the mid 80s with 70s along the shore. Expect lows each night to fall into the 50s to low 60s.
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&& .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
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The work week begins with a more unsettled pattern. Starting Monday an upper level system will push a cold front through the region. With warm air advection initially and strong PVA, there will be ample lift associated with the system tapping into a surge of PWAT from both the Gulf and the Carolinas. This leads to widespread convection across the region and EL`s should be sufficient to support thunderstorms. While CIPS guidance has started to trend slightly down on the severe threat yesterday, the 00z GEFS showed a significant increase back to a 10-15% chance of severe weather on Monday. Bulk shear vectors point towards 35-40kts with mid level lapse rates in the 6 degC/km. This should provide enough forcing for some stronger storms to become severe. WPC upgraded the Marginal from yesterday to a Slight risk for portions of the I95 corridor and PA. Given that SPORT LIS Soil Moisture data show dry conditions in the 10-40cm depth range, anticipate that any flooding will most likely be over the impervious surfaces of the more urban area rather than over more rural areas. Given the increasing confidence in at least heavy rain, the forecast was updated to include specific mention of heavy rainfall for any locations where the precip chances were higher than 55%. After the cold front passes, unsettled weather continues to be the theme thanks to several waves/impulses aloft passing through the week. Temps for the work week should be fairly seasonable with highs in the 70s through Wednesday, before falling back into the 60s by Thursday.
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&& .AVIATION /08Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
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The following discussion is for KPHL, KPNE, KTTN, KABE, KRDG, KILG, KMIV, KACY and surrounding areas... Early this morning (through 12Z)...VFR overall, though a rogue shower may be possible. Some low stratus and mist/fog could develop early morning that affects MIV and ACY, bringing sub VFR conditions. Some showers and perhaps a thunderstorm will be possible for ILG/MIV/ACY towards daybreak as well. Moderate confidence. Today...VFR overall except some lingering mist/fog and stratus likely to start the day at MIV and ACY. Also, a few showers or a thunderstorm will be possible early in the morning. Light and variable winds becoming northwest around 5 knots, then becoming west. A sea breeze may result in winds becoming south or southeast at KACY and KILG in the afternoon. Moderate confidence. Tonight...Clear skies and calm winds to start will allow for strong radiational cooling, but dew points are still expected to be in the 60s across southern NJ and the Delmarva. Could see some sub- VFR fog developing in that region as a result, mainly impacting MIV/ACY. Otherwise, VFR conditions for terminals further north and west. Outlook... Saturday through Saturday night...VFR during the day, likely becoming sub-VFR at night. Showers and thunderstorms late in the day into the evening. Sunday...VFR. No significant weather expected. Sunday night through Tuesday...Sub-VFR conditions probable with a chance of showers and strong thunderstorms especially on Monday into Monday night.
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&& .MARINE...
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The conditions are expected to remain below Small Craft Advisory criteria through Friday night. Some isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms possible Friday morning across the southern marine zones near the Delaware Bay and Delaware coastal waters. Light and variable winds this morning become more SSW around 5-10 kts. Seas remain around 2 feet. Outlook... Saturday through Tuesday...No marine headlines expected. Winds will occasionally gust up to 15-20 kt with seas around 2-4 feet. Marine fog could setup Saturday morning generally off the Delaware coastline and over Delaware Bay. Showers and thunderstorms are anticipated for Monday into Tuesday and could bring strong to severe winds. Rip Currents... For today, winds will once again be out of the S to SW at 5 to 10 mph with breaking waves of 1 to 2 feet. There is a LOW risk for the development of dangerous rip currents at NJ and DE beaches. Although there is a slight chance for showers, thunderstorms are not expected. The LOW risk for the development of dangerous rip currents is expected to continue for Saturday.
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&& .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... Astronomical tides will be elevated this week with a Full Moon occurring today, May 23. Spotty minor coastal flooding will be possible, especially for the back bays, around the times of the evening high tide cycle, which will be the higher of the two tide cycles, going into the end of this week. && .PHI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...None. NJ...None. DE...None. MD...None. MARINE...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...Deal/DeSilva NEAR TERM...MJL SHORT TERM...Deal/DeSilva LONG TERM...Deal/DeSilva AVIATION...Deal/MJL MARINE...Deal/MJL TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...PHI