Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Sterling, VA

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767 FXUS61 KLWX 280759 AFDLWX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 359 AM EDT Tue May 28 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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A reinforcing cold front will move through Wednesday night. High pressure will build in from the Great Lakes in its wake, and remain in control through the first half of the weekend.
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&& .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
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A cold front is progressing through early this morning, and should clear the entire area prior to sunrise. It will be another warm day, with temperatures climbing into the low-mid 80s to the east of the Blue Ridge, and upper 70s to low 80s to the west of the Blue Ridge. The most noticeable difference behind the front will be the decrease in dewpoints. It will feel much less humid, with dewpoints in the 50s today, as opposed to near 70 yesterday. Fair weather cumulus will develop in response to daytime heating and resultant mixing. Aloft, heights will gradually be falling as troughing builds further east from the Great Lakes and a weak shortwave disturbance passes to our north. A stray shower or storm may be possible this afternoon, but most locations should remain dry. Winds will be out of the west at around 10-15 mph, with gusts of 20-25 mph. Any showers and/or cloud cover should dissipate after dark with loss of daytime heating. Dry conditions and light westerly winds are forecast overnight, with lows in the 50s for most (lower 60s in downtown DC and Baltimore, as well as along the Bay).
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&& .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/...
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Upper level troughing will continue to dig along the East Coast during the day tomorrow, with a prominent shortwave rotating through the base of the trough and passing overhead tomorrow afternoon. With this stronger disturbance passing through, greater coverage of showers and thunderstorms is expected, especially during the afternoon. While it won`t rain all day, most locations should experience multiple showers or storms during the afternoon. Rainfall amounts won`t be overly impressive, so there aren`t any concerns for flooding. Instability and shear values won`t be impressive either, so there aren`t any concerns for severe thunderstorms. Temperatures are forecast to top out in the 70s tomorrow afternoon. Any leftover showers and storms should quickly wind down during the evening hours with loss of daytime heating. A reinforcing cold front will move through the area tomorrow night. Winds will turn northwesterly behind the front, and temperatures will drop back into the 50s for most (40s mountains). Yet another shortwave disturbance will descend down in northwesterly flow from the Great Lakes toward the base of the longwave trough on Thursday. This disturbance will lead to the development of some clouds during the afternoon, and potentially a few sprinkles or light showers. However, most locations should remain dry. Winds will be out of the northwest at around 10-15 mph, with gusts up to 20 mph. Temperatures will only make it into the low-mid 70s, with dewpoints dropping into the 40s. Upper troughing will finally start to move off toward our east Thursday night. As this occurs, large scale subsidence will start to increase in the wake of the departing trough, encouraging high pressure to start building in from the Great Lakes. Most locations will maintain a northwest wind through the night, which should keep temperatures in the 40s to lower 50s. However, more sheltered valley in the mountains may eventually decouple during the second half of the night. If those cooler mountain valleys do go calm, they would likely drop into the 30s for low temperatures, leading to a chilly final morning of May.
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&& .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
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By Friday, high pressure will continue to be situated off to the northwest. Slightly below normal temperatures will be common for the afternoon as a result of incoming northwest flow across the Mid-Atlantic to finish the workweek. Abundant sunshine is expected throughout the day with winds remaining fairly light. Another cool night is expected Friday night with 40s to low 50s expected for most locations. Cannot rule out some colder valleys and sheltered locations getting into the upper 30s for a few hours. High pressure will continue to build overhead for the start of the weekend before moving further east later on. Mostly dry conditions are expected for most of the weekend with a mix of sun and clouds both days. Sunday, a few isolated showers and rumble of thunder will be possible as an area of low pressure inches closer from the Mississippi Valley. Highs will gradually increase from the low to mid 70s on Friday to the upper 70s to low 80s on Sunday with winds shifting more out of the south. Afternoon showers and thunderstorms remain possible Monday as an upper trough deepens from the Great Lakes. Highs will be in the mid to upper 80s for a large portion of the area aside from the mountains where upper 70s will be more common.
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&& .AVIATION /07Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
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Prevailing VFR conditions are expected at the terminals through Thursday. Some fair weather cumulus will develop around FL070 this afternoon. A stray shower or storm also can`t be ruled out, but the vast majority of locations should remain dry. Winds will turn westerly today, and will gust to around 20 knots this afternoon. Continued VFR conditions are expected tomorrow, although there will be a higher coverage of showers and storms, especially during the afternoon. Winds will be out of the west at around 5-10 knots. A cold front will move through the area tomorrow night. Winds will turn northwesterly behind the front, and may gust to around 15-20 knots tomorrow night into Thursday. A stray shower or storm can`t be ruled out Thursday afternoon, but most locations should remain dry. VFR conditions are expected Friday and Saturday with fairly light winds out of the northwest both days. High pressure leans overhead during the day on Saturday, keeping flow pretty calm.
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&& .MARINE...
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Winds will turn westerly today. Gusts to around 20 knots may be possible this afternoon into early this evening across northern portions of the Bay, as well as the middle and upper Tidal Potomac. SCAs are in effect for those locations from 11 AM until 7 PM. Sub-SCA westerly winds are expected tomorrow. SMWs may potentially be needed in association with storms that move over the waters tomorrow afternoon. A cold front will cross over the waters tomorrow night. Winds will pick up out of the northwest behind this front. SCA conditions may be possible in northwesterly flow tomorrow night into the day Thursday. Northwest flow will continue Friday into early Saturday. Sub-SCA winds are expected for this period as the pressure gradient weakens across the Mid-Atlantic. & .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... Winds will turn westerly today, remain westerly tomorrow, and then become northwesterly on Thursday. This continued offshore flow should lead to decreasing water levels over time. However, more sensitive locations like Straits Point and Annapolis may hit Minor flood stage with the tide cycle this morning prior to when offshore flow picks up. Thereafter, coastal flooding isn`t anticipated over the next few days.
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&& .LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
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DC...None. MD...Coastal Flood Advisory until 8 AM EDT this morning for MDZ017. VA...None. WV...None. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 7 PM EDT this evening for ANZ530>532-535-536-538>540.
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&& $$ SYNOPSIS...KJP NEAR TERM...KJP SHORT TERM...KJP LONG TERM...ADM AVIATION...KJP/ADM MARINE...KJP/ADM TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...KJP