Area Forecast Discussion Issued by NWS Wakefield, VA
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FXUS61 KAKQ 170811
AFDAKQ
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Wakefield VA
411 AM EDT Sun Mar 17 2024
.SYNOPSIS...
A weak upper level disturbance crosses the area through this
morning. A cold front will drop through the region tonight
bringing in cooler air for the start of next week. A stronger
cold front will cross the area late Monday into Tuesday morning.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
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As of 400 AM EDT Sunday...
Early this morning, a weak sfc trough was pushing into cntrl VA
and the Carolinas. Weak shortwave energy was right in advance of
this trough. The sky cover ranged from mostly clear to mostly
cloudy across the area. Temps ranged from the upper 40s to mid
50s. This shortwave energy and associated trough could produce
isolated to sctd showers over ern/SE portions of the area
through around 800 am. Then, expect a partly sunny sky for the
remainder of the day, with WSW winds helping to produce very
mild high temps in the upper 60s to lower 70s.
Also, a strong low pressure system will track from SE Canada
toward the Canadian Maritimes today into Mon morning. This will
send a second, stronger cold front across the area later this
evening into Mon morning. Expect more clouds across the srn half
of the region this evening into Mon morning, and there may be a
little bit of light rain, as a weak shortwave also moves offshore
to our south. Will keep PoPs no higher than 20-30% in SE VA/NE
NC with a dry forecast elsewhere. QPFs are a few hundredths of
an inch at best. Lows tonight with range from the mid 30s extrm
NW, to the upper 40s extrm SE VA/NE NC.-- End Changed Discussion --
&&
.SHORT TERM /MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/...
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As of 400 AM EDT Sunday...
Cooler and breezy in some areas on Mon under a generally partly
sunny sky. Highs will range through the 50s. A secondary,
stronger shot of CAA arrives Mon night into Tue morning, as the
flow aloft becomes NW. Breezy (esply near the coast) Mon night
with lows in the upper 20s to upper 30s. Tue looks to be the
coolest day of the period with continued breezy WNW winds (gusts
up to 30 mph possible near the coast) and highs in the lower to
mid 50s. Mostly clear to partly cloudy Tue night with lows
ranging from the mid 30s extrm NW, to the lower 40s extrm SE VA
and NE NC.-- End Changed Discussion --
&&
.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
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As of 410 AM EDT Sunday...
The flow aloft flattens out a little bit from Wed-Thu, but the
latest (12z) global models and ensembles still show it remaining
WNW. Temperatures moderate into the 60s (with continued dry wx) for
Wed, but may cool back down a bit on Thu behind another dry cold
front. Still breezy out of the WNW on Wed, with lighter N winds
expected on Thu.
Then, attention turns to our next low pressure system, which will
impact the area sometime between Friday night and Sun/Mon. While
there are major differences in the GFS/ECMWF with respect to timing,
ensemble mean precipitation amounts are 0.50-1.50" across the FA
from Friday (3/22) through Monday (3/25). So, will continue to go
with widespread 40-60% PoPs during this time, which will likely need
to be raised as confidence in exact timing increases in the coming
days (given that ensemble mean QPFs are already > 1"in parts of the
area). Temps remain near to below average from Fri through next
weekend.-- End Changed Discussion --
&&
.AVIATION /08Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
As of 220 AM EDT Sunday...
Mainly VFR conditions are expected at the TAF sites from early
this morning into early Mon morning. However, a shortwave will
cross the area through this morning, which may bring a few
showers to SBY/PHF/ORF/ECG, with the highest chc being at
ECG/ORF. Flight restrictions, mostly from MVFR CIGs are expected
for a few hrs across SE VA/NE NC and have included VCSH wording
at ORF/ECG. VFR after ~13Z this morning for all areas with
winds shifting to the W-WSW and increasing to 10-15 kt (with
gusts to 20 kt).
Outlook: Isolated to widely sctd showers will be possible over
SE terminals (ORF/ECG) with a second, stronger cold front
crossing the region tonight into Mon morning (which may result
in brief flight restrictions). Otherwise, mainly VFR through the
middle of next week.
&&
.MARINE...
As of 335 AM EDT Sunday...
Latest analysis shows 1012+mb sfc low pressure offshore of the
southeast coast early this morning. A potent northern stream
~992mb low pressure system was analyzed over eastern Ontario,
with the associated strong surface cold front extending from
Lake Ontario SSW into the eastern OH and Lower TN River Valleys.
Latest obs and buoy reports showing SSW flow 10-20 kt over the
bay, with pressure gradient briefly tightening with weak low
pressure sliding across the region this morning. Expect SCA
conditions currently in place over the lower James and Ches Bay
to quickly ramp down in the wake of this system after 6-7 am,
and will therefore extend SCA through 7am for the lower James
and lower Bay to match the middle bay zones. Otherwise, no major
changes in forecast rationale for today, with winds remaining
W-SW 10-15 kt, occasionally gusting to 18-20 kt in the James
River and lower bay this afternoon.
Winds veer to the N-NW, tonight into early Monday morning, as
the pressure gradient tightens once again ahead of the next
frontal passage. A brief period of SCA is possible with NW winds
over the lower bay. However, SCA headlines are more likely to
be needed Monday evening, as a strong cold front drops across
the waters. Winds quickly ramp up after 00z/8pm over northern
waters, reaching the southern waters by midnight as gusty NW
winds bring much cooler air into the region. Wind probs remain
low for prolonged gale force gusts (<10%), but quite likely to
see solid SCAs appear over the entire area during this
timeframe. Cool high pressure builds south of the area Tue
night, allowing winds to slowly diminish and SCAs potentially
coming down by mid to late Tuesday afternoon. Winds back to the
W-SW winds late Tue into Wed, with potential for a brief period
of SCA conditions Tue night in the lower bay and lower James
River. Another front drops across the area later Wed aftn,
pushing winds back to the NNW Wed night and Thu.
&&
.AKQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
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MD...None.
NC...None.
VA...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 7 AM EDT this morning for
ANZ630>632-634-638.-- End Changed Discussion --
&&
$$
SYNOPSIS...TMG
NEAR TERM...TMG
SHORT TERM...ERI/TMG
LONG TERM...ERI/TMG
AVIATION...TMG
MARINE...MAM