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-- Discussion containing changed information from previous version are highlighted. --
281
FXUS61 KCTP 251131
AFDCTP

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service State College PA
731 AM EDT Mon Sep 25 2017

.SYNOPSIS...
Unseasonable late-September heat will continue in central PA
through mid week. Mostly dry weather will also prevail with
just an isolated shower possible in spots on Wednesday. A
pattern change will bring cooler, fall-like weather back to
the area for end of the week and into the upcoming weekend.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
As with so many previous nights, valley fog is expanding over
central and northern areas.

Areas of fog will give way to another very warm and muggy
afternoon by late-September standards with max temperatures in
the mid 80s to around 90F (15-20 degrees above normal). It will
feel even warmer with max HX values between 90 and 95 degrees.

Tonight will be another repeat of the last several, mild with
mainly clear skies and valley fog after midnight. YAWN!

&&

.SHORT TERM /TUESDAY/...
High heights and anomalous warmth, where have we heard that
before? Some of the deterministic models want to fire a shower
or two off over NW PA near the lake breeze, but we are dry and
stable and warm aloft so I stayed with the dry forecast.

&&

.LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...
The blocking high that has been responsible for the recent
extended spell of dry and anomalously warm conditions is
forecast to start breaking down by mid week, with shortwave
energy sliding along the US-Canadian border finally chewing away
at the high heights and bringing some cooler air eastward.

In the meantime Maria is still forecast to drift northward into
the offshore waters off of Cape Hatteras on Wednesday. But the
aforementioned northern stream shortwave finally gives it the
incentive to take a hard turn east as the storm passes 35 deg
north.

For our area, it looks like the first chance we will have to
see any rain might be later Wednesday with a weakening cold
front that is destined to fall apart in the unfavorable shear on
the northwest side of the sprawling hurricane. Any rainfall
looks to be scattered and light, bringing little change to the
dry conditions we`ve had around here for much of September.

A bit more significant trough will approach for the end of the
week into the weekend. The ECMWF has backed off and now looks
much like the GFS with a flatter faster wave, and a return to
ridging by Sunday. The atmosphere will be dry so there doesn`t
seem to be much of a chance for significant rain, just
scattered light showers. We will likely go on into at least 3
weeks without any widespread beneficial rain.

The biggest change will be that temps will drop off from our
streak of well above-normal levels back toward seasonal normals
by Friday.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
-- Changed Discussion --
12Z TAFS sent.

Some low clouds and fog for another hour or so, then lots of
sun and VFR conditions, as a large high remains over the area.

Sunday was a dry and warm early fall day. The main feature
that was interesting was it was breezy. VAD winds around
500 MB when I left yesterday morning were around 50 knots.

Tue-Wed...Patchy AM valley fog possible.

Thu...Mainly VFR conditions. Perhaps a few showers.

Thu-Fri...No sig wx expected.
-- End Changed Discussion --

&&

.CLIMATE...
Record-challenging late-September heat through early week.
Daily high temperature records from 9/24 through 9/26:

Bradford: 82 in 1961, 83 in 2007, 79 in 1998

Williamsport: 90 in 1961, 89 in 1970, 92 in 1900

Harrisburg: 97 in 1970, 93 in 1970, 91 in 1970

Altoona: 91 in 1970, 90 in 1970, 88 in 1998

The high of 86 in Bradford on Sunday was a new record high
temperature.

The high of 92 in Williamsport on Sunday was a new record
high temperature.

&&

.CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

$$
SYNOPSIS...La Corte
NEAR TERM...La Corte
SHORT TERM...La Corte
LONG TERM...La Corte
AVIATION...Martin
CLIMATE...Steinbugl/Martin