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200
FXUS62 KGSP 160855
AFDGSP

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
455 AM EDT Wed Aug 16 2017

.SYNOPSIS...
High pressure is expected over the next few days leading to hotter
conditions and below normal chances for convection.  Moist and
unsettled weather gradually returns late week and into the weekend.
Some drying is favored into Sunday with a return to moist conditions
to start the new work week.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
As of 445 AM EDT: Uncertainty continues over the potential for fog
development across the region this morning. The soil and the
boundary layer remain moist in many locations. The NAM has low
condensation pressure deficits around daybreak, while the GFS/RAP
are much more reserved in depicting any fog problems. IR imagery
also shows mostly thin mid and high clouds transiting the region,
but temperatures are already very close to the dewpoints. All told,
some fog is likely, but will keep the mention patchy for now.

Otherwise, the southeastern ridge will become resurgent today
through tonight. Under the slowly building upper ridge, lapse rates
and afternoon sbCAPE values should remain relatively modest and the
convection-allowing models show limited coverage this afternoon and
early evening. Still feel that the best scattered shower and
thunderstorm coverage should be along the eastern slopes of the Blue
Ridge and the immediately downstream western foothills during the
mid to late afternoon hours. Max temps this afternoon should reach
the 90s in most areas east of the mountains, and heat index values
should reach 100 in the lower piedmont. Early evening convection
should wrap up quickly tonight. Expect another warm and muggy night
with min temps some 5 to 10 degrees above climo and another round of
patchy fog developing toward daybreak Thursday.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...
As of 300 AM EDT Wednesday:  The short term fcst period kicks off on
Thursday morning amidst shortwave ridging aloft across the extreme
southeast states thanks a broad anticyclone centered in the GOM,
while a neutral/negatively tilted trof moves through the upper
Midwest and into the mid/upper MS River Valley.  At the surface,
weak high pressure will be in control over northeast GA and the
Carolinas while a region of cyclogenesis and an associated front
moves beneath the aforementioned upper trof.  Pattern evolution
through Thursday will favor increasing moisture amidst slowly
falling heights aloft, with guidance suggesting weak lee trof
development over the Fthills/Piedmont regions.  Therefore, with
profiles being rather unstable think said lee trof could provide a
focus for convection, which is fcst to develop along the high
terrain before propagating east into the low terrain.  The fcst will
feature fairly healthy pops with likely levels highlighted over the
mtns with high chance pops elsewhere.  Said pops will lower through
the overnight as instability wains leading to a mostly dry fcst to
start off Friday.

The above mentioned cold front will approach western NC by mid/late
day Friday allowing for ample heating out ahead.  Another round of
convection looks probable along the front in the evening hours,
however with profiles on Friday actually being a bit more moist
through the column, and thus limiting lapse rates to some degree.
Timing of the fropa will be key, however at this point the guidance
doesn`t look all that excited as it pertains to convection given
that the fropa is progged after peak heating.  That said, pops on
Friday will be above climo, but generally capped in the mid/high
chance range regionwide.  Temperatures through the short term period
will be quite warm at a few degrees above normal levels with heat
indices both days approaching/exceeding the century mark, especially
south of I85.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
As of 315 AM EDT Wednesday:  The medium range fcst period
initializes on Saturday morning in the wake of a weak sfc fropa,
while an upper trof is staged just to the west.  Said surface front
looks to stall out across the Midlands, northeast into east/central
NC providing a focus for convection during the afternoon hours with
some enhancement possible given falling heights and intruding
shortwave energy.  That said, for the most part OP guidance favors
near climo pops across the CWFA as drier high pressure noses in
behind the front.  Near normal pops are favored again on Sunday as
high pressure looks to dominate leading to only diurnally favored
convection, all while transitioning eastward across the northern
Appalachians over the Delmarva by Monday.

For Monday, The stationary front looks to gradually lift northward
out of the Midlands into the Upstate by early afternoon, per both
the GFS and ECMWF.  Low level RH fields in both models favor RH in
excess of 70% with profiles exhibiting modest lapse rates.
Therefore chances for convection remain elevated with fcst pops in
the mid chance range, and sky cover still around 50-60%.  The front
is progged to lift north of the area on Tuesday as the western
Atlantic ridge controls the llv flow, all while another upper trof
digs across the central CONUS.  Therefore think convection on
Tuesday will return to more of a diurnal trend with pops near
climo.  Temperatures through the period will kick off near normal
over the weekend, cooling a few degrees on Monday given the
proximity of the front and any associated sky cover and convection,
then returning to normal for Tuesday.

&&

.AVIATION /09Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
At CLT and Elsewhere: Early morning fog remains the primary question
mark as the ground and boundary layer are moist in most locations,
but with some passing mid and high clouds and disparate model
solutions of daybreak fog. Will feature brief MVFR fog at most
locations, with IFR most likely in the mountain valleys around KAVL.
Will also hint at few to scattered low stratus, but the potential
appears to be quite a bit less than recent mornings. Expect
scattered cumulus with heating today, and PROB30 mainly at KAVL and
across the foothills from KGMU to KGSP to KHKY late this afternoon.
Light winds should toggle southwest through the day.

Outlook: The transition to a more typical late summer pattern is
expected by the end of the week, continuing into early next week,
with scattered afternoon convection and morning low stratus and
patchy fog likely each day, especially in the mountain valleys and
in locations seeing appreciable rainfall.

Confidence Table...

            09-15Z        15-21Z        21-03Z        03-06Z
KCLT       High  94%     High 100%     High 100%     High 100%
KGSP       High  83%     High 100%     High 100%     High 100%
KAVL       Med   60%     High 100%     High 100%     High  83%
KHKY       High  83%     High 100%     High 100%     High 100%
KGMU       High  94%     High 100%     High 100%     High 100%
KAND       High  94%     High 100%     High 100%     High 100%

The percentage reflects the number of guidance members agreeing
with the scheduled TAF issuance flight rule category. Complete hourly
experimental aviation forecast consistency tables and ensemble forecasts
are available at the following link:

www.weather.gov/gsp/aviation

&&

.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...None.
NC...None.
SC...None.

&&

$$
SYNOPSIS...CDG
NEAR TERM...HG
SHORT TERM...CDG
LONG TERM...CDG
AVIATION...HG