Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Newport/Morehead, NC
Issued by NWS Newport/Morehead, NC
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533 FXUS62 KMHX 120825 AFDMHX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC 425 AM EDT Sun May 12 2024 .SYNOPSIS... High pressure builds across eastern NC today behind a departing cold front, remaining in control into Monday despite a weak backdoor front crossing the region tonight. Then, a low pressure system will bring unsettled weather across the area Tuesday into Wednesday. High pressure builds in on Thursday before another low pressure system impacts us late in the week. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... As of 230 AM Sun...Latest analysis this morning depicts barotropic upper level trough situated over southeastern Canada as a shortwave trough pivots across the eastern OH Valley, with predominantly westerly flow across the Carolinas. To the west, ridging is amplifying over the southern plains as another upper level low digs into the Four Corners region. At the surface, cold front associated with the Great Lakes low is pushing across the Appalachians while a pre-frontal trough is driving a band of mid-level clouds across ENC. Radar is showing a few very light returns from Richlands to Fayetteville but a lack of confirming ground observations point to this likely being virga, or very light sprinkles at best. Cold front will quickly push across the area this morning as shortwave traverses the mid-Atlantic, allowing high pressure to build in its wake. Breezy downslope WSW flow, combined with increasing low-level heights in the wake of the upper trough, favor temperatures rebounding into the mid to upper 70s on a mainly sunny and dry Sunday. Across the northern Outer Banks, temperatures will not be able to climb quite as high as a weak backdoor cold front, associated with a very weak wave of low pressure dropping southeast out of the Delmarva Peninsula, pushes across the area. RHs this afternoon plummet to between 25-30% especially across the coastal plain, but given recently saturated soils fire conditions will be marginal. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 6 AM MONDAY/... As of 230 AM Sun...Deep ridging will continue to expand over much of the southeastern CONUS tonight into Monday morning as mid- Atlantic trough pushes further offshore and Four Corners low digs further into the southern Plains states. High pressure will settle overhead as the backdoor front traverses the area and eventually washes out, promoting calm winds and clear skies. This pattern strongly favors a low temperature forecast below guidance given excellent radiational cooling, and would not be surprised to see a multitude of readings in the upper 40s across the coastal plain early Mon morning. Patchy radiation fog is possible to start the morning work commute, but widespread visibility issues are not anticipated. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 330 AM Sunday...Dry and seasonably cool weather will continue Monday as high pressure builds across the area. Unsettled weather will impact ENC on Tue/Wed as a deepening low pressure tracks across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. High pressure builds in Thursday night into Friday but another low pressure system will impact the area late in the week. Monday and Monday night...High pressure will become centered off the Mid-Atlantic will migrate offshore on Monday while ridging builds aloft. Dry conditions will continue but clouds will be increasing through the day as the next system approaches from the west. Temps will be seasonable with highs in the upper 70s/lower 80s. Dew points will be much below normal however in the low to mid 50s making for very comfortable conditions. Tuesday through Wednesday night...Vertically stacked low pressure will track across the Ohio River Valley on Tuesday and then push across the Mid-Atlantic on Wednesday before pushing off the coast Wednesday night. Precip chances increase through the day Tuesday and peak Tuesday night as upper level diffluence and southern stream moisture increases across the area with PWATs peaking around 1.75". Additional showers will push across the area Wednesday as the upper level trough and attendant sfc cold front pushes across the area. Could see a few elevated thunderstorms Tuesday into Tuesday night but clouds and precip will limit instability and any severe potential appears minimal. However, Wednesday will have a better chance for stronger storms with better upper level support, colder temps aloft, and greater instability coupled with around 30-40 kt of bulk shear. Most of the area will likely see a soaking rain with precip amounts around 1-1.5" through the period with coastal sections potentially approaching 2". Temps will continue to be seasonable with highs in the mid 70s to around 80 Tuesday and low to mid 80s on Wednesday. Thursday through Friday...Disparity continues among the models with how the mid week system transitions as it moves offshore late Wednesday with some solutions opening the upper low into a wave with the system progressively moving east into the western Atlantic allowing for upper ridging to build aloft bringing a dry forecast. However, the 00z operational ECMWF and to some extent the CMC now maintain a closed low with a slower track across the Mid-Atlantic on Thursday keeping cyclonic flow over the area which will bring greater cloud cover with a few showers persisting across the area. Have now introduced slight chance PoPs and the CMC is trending toward the ECMWF. Models are in better agreement with another southern stream system quickly moving into the area late in the week but once again guidance differs with how the system evolves as it pushes across the Southeast and off the coast. But despite the differences, most guidance brings another round of descent rainfall amounts across much of the area. && .AVIATION /07Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... SHORT TERM /through 06z Monday/... As of 140 AM Sun...The probability of sub-VFR flight conditions over the next 24 hours is less than 10%. VFR conditions prevail across all areas early this morning as a weak pre-frontal trough and associated cloud cover (confined above 7 kft) push across ENC. Clear skies are expected to prevail immediately behind this boundary and prevail through most of the day, although some modest cu field development is possible in the afternoon. Breezy WNW winds expected this afternoon with gusts up to 25 kt possible across the coastal plain. Across the northern Outer Banks, a secondary front will cross the area late this afternoon as a weak area of low pressure passes offshore bringing further veering of winds to the north and eventually northeasterly into the overnight hours. After sunset, winds will rapidly decouple under clear skies as high pressure moves overhead. Some patchy radiational fog is possible at the most vulnerable sites, but odds of anything impactful to operations are very low - less than 10%. LONG TERM /Monday through Thursday/... As of 4 AM Sunday...Pred VFR conditions expected through Monday as high pressure builds across the region. A low pressure system will impact the area Tuesday through Wednesday with deteriorating conditions expected Tuesday with periods of sub- VFR continuing into Wednesday. Sub-VFR conditions possible Wednesday night with plenty of low level moisture in place. Pred VFR returns Thursday but could see isolated showers bringing brief sub-VFR conditions. && .MARINE... SHORT TERM /Today and Tonight/... As of 315 AM Sun...Improving marine conditions expected through the short term, although multiple frontal passages will bring quick wind regime changes over the waters through tomorrow morning. Regional observations show south to southwesterly winds of 5-10 kt with seas 3-5 feet (except 2-3 feet across Onslow Bay) as a pre-frontal trough and cold front approach the waters from the west. The primary cold front is expected to cross the waters by sunrise, accompanied by a west-northwesterly surge of around 15 kt with a few gusts exceeding 20 kt this morning. By this afternoon, a weak wave of low pressure moving off the Delmarva Peninsula will drag a subtle backdoor cold front across the waters, veering winds northerly and then easterly through tonight. Winds are expected to weaken behind this boundary to around 10 kt or less. Currently observed seas will change little into the afternoon as winds pick back up out of the west, but once the backdoor front pushes through lighter winds will allow seas to subside, falling to around 2-3 feet areawide by Mon morning. No SCA headlines are needed this morning although a few spotty gusts to 25 kt are possible (10-20% chance) across portions of the sounds this morning. LONG TERM /Monday through Thursday/... As of 415 AM Sunday...High pressure builds moves offshore Monday while a low pressure system will impact the waters Tuesday into Wednesday. Low pressure may linger near the coast into Thursday. Easterly winds around 15 kt or less continues into Monday with seas around 2-4 ft. Winds veer to southerly Monday night and increase Tuesday ahead of the low pressure system and expect a period of Small Craft Advisory conditions to develop and continue into Wednesday. We may see a brief period of Gale Force winds across portions of the waters Tuesday evening. Seas will build Tuesday and peak around 7-10 ft Tuesday night, then will gradually subside Wednesday and Wednesday night. A cold front will push across the waters with winds becoming NW to N around 10-15 kt and seas around 3 to 5 ft. && .MHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NC...None. MARINE...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...MHX NEAR TERM...MS SHORT TERM...MS LONG TERM...SK AVIATION...SK/MS MARINE...SK/MS