Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Sterling, VA

Current Version | Previous Version | Graphics & Text | Print | Product List | Glossary Off
Versions: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42

000
FXUS61 KLWX 130634
AFDLWX

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
234 AM EDT THU JUN 13 2013

.SYNOPSIS...
A COLD FRONT WILL REMAIN STALLED OUT NEAR THE MASON-DIXON LINE
THROUGH THIS EVENING. LOW PRESSURE WILL RIDE ALONG THE
BOUNDARY...IMPACTING THE AREA DURING THIS TIME. THE COLD FRONT
ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOW WILL PASS THROUGH TONIGHT AND HIGH PRESSURE
WILL SLOWLY BUILD TOWARD THE AREA FRIDAY THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
CURRENT ANALYSIS SHOWS A STALLED BOUNDARY NEAR THE MASON-DIXON LINE
AND POTENT LOW PRESSURE MOVING THROUGH THE OHIO VALLEY. SHORTWAVE
ENERGY IN THE WESTERLY FLOW ALOFT IS PASSING THROUGH EARLY THIS
MORNING.

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER WEST VIRGINIA...SOUTHWEST
PENNSYLVANIA...AND A COMPLEX OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER
OHIO EARLY THIS MORNING ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO OUR AREA BY
SUNRISE. STRENGTHENING SHEAR PROFILES AHEAD OF THE POTENT LOW
ALONG WITH MODERATE INSTABILITY SUGGESTS THAT SOME STORMS MAY
BECOME SEVERE...WITH LOCALLY DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND LARGE HAIL
THE PRIMARY THREATS. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO EXPECTED DUE
TO HIGH PRECIPITABLE WATERS FROM THE WARM AND MOIST AIRMASS
OVERHEAD. AS OF NOW...IT APPEARS THAT THE BEST CHANCE FOR SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS EARLY THIS MORNING WILL BE ACROSS THE NORTHERN
HALF OF THE CWA CLOSER TO THE SHORTWAVE ENERGY AND THE STALLED
BOUNDARY.

THE POTENT LOW OVER THE OHIO VALLEY WILL TRACK EAST LATER
TODAY...PASSING BY TO OUR NORTH THIS AFTERNOON. A SOUTHWEST FLOW IS
EXPECTED ACROSS OUR CWA ON THE WARM SIDE OF THE LOW. THEREFORE...HOT
AND HUMID AIR WILL CAUSE HIGH AMOUNTS OF INSTABILITY. THE SHEAR
PROFILES WILL BE QUITE STRONG AS THE JETSTREAM STRENGTHENS AHEAD OF
THE LOW. THE COMBINATION OF STRONG SHEAR PROFILES AND HIGH
INSTABILITY DOES POSE THE THREAT FOR A SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER
EVENT. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS AND
LARGE HAIL...AND THERE IS EVEN A THREAT FOR ISOLATED TORNADOES. THE
BEST CHANCE FOR SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE DURING THIS AFTERNOON AND
EARLY EVENING HOURS. THERE IS A THREAT ACROSS THE ENTIRE CWA FOR
SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER...BUT THE MOST WIDESPREAD COVERAGE IS
EXPECTED EAST OF THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS WHERE STORMS WILL HAVE
MORE TIME TO DEVELOP BEFORE DRIER AIR MOVES IN BEHIND THE COLD FRONT
THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS LOW. WINDY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT FROM A STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENT. SOUTHWEST
WINDS WILL GUST FREQUENTLY AROUND 30 TO 35 MPH THIS AFTERNOON.

THE COLD FRONT THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOW WILL PASS THROUGH THE
AREA FROM WEST TO EAST LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. A STRONG
PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL CAUSE WINDY CONDITIONS TO PERSIST THROUGH
MUCH OF TONIGHT. WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE NORTHWEST BEHIND THE
BOUNDARY WITH GUSTS AROUND 30 TO 35 MPH. HIGHER WIND GUSTS ARE
POSSIBLE ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS...AND A WIND ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED
PORTIONS OF THESE AREAS. A FEW SHOWERS ARE POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT BEHIND
THE COLD FRONT AS AN UPPER-LEVEL TROUGH BUILDS OVERHEAD. SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE...MAINLY EARLY THIS EVENING AHEAD OF THE
COLD FRONT FOR LOCATIONS EAST OF THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS.
HOWEVER...DRIER AIR BEHIND THE COLD FRONT WILL PUT AN END TO ANY
SEVERE WEATHER THREAT LATER THIS EVENING. A FEW SHOWERS MAY LINGER
OVERNIGHT DUE TO AN UPPER-LEVEL TROUGH BUILDING OVERHEAD.

&&

.SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
500MB TROUGH AXIS SHOULD BE ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST FRIDAY
MORNING.  SHOWERS WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR THE START OF FRIDAY AS ENERGY
AND MID LEVEL MOISTURE LAGS BEHIND TROUGH ON THE BACKSIDE.  COLD
FRONT WILL BE WELL TO OUR EAST AND NORTHWEST FLOW WILL BRING IN
COOLER AND DRIER AIR INTO THE MID ATLANTIC.  HIGH PRESSURE FROM THE
WEST WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION AND THE PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL RELAX
BY FRIDAY NIGHT LESSENING WIND SPEEDS AT THE SFC AND DRYING OUT
ENTIRE COLUMN.  CLEAR SKIES AND CALM WINDS ARE EXPECTED FRIDAY NIGHT
AND INTO SATURDAY MORNING.

HIGH PRESSURE WILL LEAD TO A SUNNY DAY IN THE MID ATLANTIC
SATURDAY.  NW WINDS WILL CONTINUE FOR MOST OF THE DAY BEFORE BACKING
TO THE SW BY EVENING.  HIGH CLOUDS WILL BEGIN TO STREAM IN FROM THE
SW SATURDAY NIGHT AS THE NEXT SHORTWAVE TROUGH APPROACHES FROM THE
WEST.

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
ANOTHER ACTIVE PATTERN IS IN STORE FOR THE MID ATLANTIC BEGINNING
SUNDAY EVENING.  ALBEIT ZONAL FLOW FOR THE START OF THE WORK WEEK
MULTIPLE DISTURBANCES WILL MOVE OVER THE REGION.  SHOWERS WILL MOVE
INTO THE REGION SUNDAY EVENING AS THE FIRST SHORTWAVE TROUGH
APPROACHES THE OHIO VALLEY.  THERE IS MINIMAL INSTABILITY IN FCST
SOUNDINGS AND ACTIVITY SEEMS TO MOVE THROUGH THE REGION OVERNIGHT
AND EXIT MONDAY SO CURRENT THINKING REGION WILL ONLY SEE SHOWERS.

LOW PRESSURE OVER THE NORTHERN PLAINS WILL APPROACH THE MID ATLANTIC
DURING THE START OF THE WEEK.  SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL CONTINUE DURING
THIS TIME AND GULF MOISTURE WILL BE ADVECTED NORTHWARD.  SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE DURING THIS TIME.  TRACK OF LOW
PRESSURE AND COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE WILL DEPICT THE THUNDERSTORM
THREAT FOR THE MID ATLANTIC.  LONG RANGE MODEL GUIDANCE HAS A RANGE
OF POSSIBILITIES THIS FAR OUT BUT TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY SEEM
THE BEST FOR FRONTAL PASSAGE.  HIGH PRESSURE MOVES IN FROM THE WEST
BEHIND FRONTAL PASSAGE.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
LOW PRESSURE WILL PASS BY TO THE NORTH THIS AFTERNOON AND THE COLD
FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOW WILL PASS THROUGH THE TERMINALS LATE
THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED
AHEAD OF THE BOUNDARY. THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY BECOME
SEVERE...WITH DAMAGING WIND GUSTS...LARGE HAIL...AND EVEN ISOLATED
TORNADOES. THE BEST CHANCE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE THIS
AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING.

SOUTHWEST WINDS AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT WILL GUST AROUND 30 KNOTS
LATE THIS MORNING AND AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE NORTHWEST
BEHIND THE COLD FRONT WITH GUSTS AROUND 30 KNOTS.

VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED THIS WEEKEND.  SHOWERS WILL MOVE INTO THE
REGION SUNDAY NIGHT BUT RESTRICTIONS ARE EXPECTED.


&&

.MARINE...
LOW PRESSURE WILL PASS BY TO THE NORTH OF THE WATERS LATE THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE COLD FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOW WILL
PASS THROUGH THE WATERS THIS EVENING. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE
EXPECTED AHEAD OF THE BOUNDARY. THUNDERSTORMS WILL HAVE THE
POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS...LARGE HAIL...AND EVEN
ISOLATED WATERSPOUTS. THE BEST CHANCE FOR THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
WILL BE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

GUSTY WINDS ARE EXPECTED AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT WITH SOUTHWEST
WINDS GUSTING AROUND 30 KNOTS THIS AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL SHIFT TO
THE NORTHWEST BEHIND THE COLD FRONT WITH FREQUENT GUSTS AROUND 30
KNOTS. A GALE WARNING MAY BE NEEDED FOR PORTIONS OF THE WATERS
TONIGHT.

NW WINDS WILL CONTINUE FRIDAY AND INTO SATURDAY AS COLD FRONT
DEPARTS TO THE EAST.  WINDS WILL RELAX FRIDAY NIGHT AND INTO THE
WEEKEND AS HIGH PRESSURE MOVES OVER THE WATERS.  SHOWERS WILL MOVE
INTO THE REGION SUNDAY NIGHT.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE CWA THROUGH THURSDAY.
WET ANTECEDENT CONDITIONS HAS RESULTED IN A 1-HR FFG AROUND AN INCH.
THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR A COMPLEX OF SHOWERS AND STORMS TO MOVE
OVER THE CWA EARLY THIS MORNING. IF THE COMPLEX HOLDS UP...IT WILL
HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE HVY DOWNPOURS WITH RAINFALL RATES OVER
ONE INCH PER HOUR. THE BEST CHANCE FOR RAIN EARLY THIS MORNING WILL
BE OVER NRN MD...NORTHERN VA...AND THE ERN WV PANHANDLE...CLOSER TO
A STALLED BOUNDARY.

STEADY HEAVIER RAIN IS MORE LIKELY NORTH OF THE AFOREMENTIONED
BOUNDARY...WHICH LIKELY PUTS WIDESPREAD HEAVY PRECIPITATION NORTH OF
THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON. HOWEVER...EVEN CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY THAT
DEVELOPS SOUTH OF THE WARM FRONT WILL DEFINITELY BE CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING 1-2 INCHES OF RAINFALL IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

&&

.TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL DEVELOP LATER BY THIS AFTERNOON. THIS
WILL CAUSE TIDAL ANOMALIES TO INCREASE. HOWEVER...THE WIND SHOULD BE
WEST OF SOUTH AND THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL OCCUR DURING THE LOWER OF
THE TWO HIGH TIDE CYCLES THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
THEREFORE...WATER LEVELS SHOULD REMAIN BELOW THRESHOLDS FOR MINOR
COASTAL FLOODING. WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE NORTHWEST TONIGHT.

&&

.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR DCZ001.
MD...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON FOR MDZ003-501-502.
     FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR MDZ004>007-009>011-
     013-014-016>018.
VA...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON FOR VAZ025>031-036-
     037-503-504.
     FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR VAZ038>040-042-
     050>057-501-502.
WV...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON FOR WVZ050>053-055-
     501>506.
MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM 8 AM THIS MORNING TO 1 PM EDT FRIDAY
     FOR ANZ530>543.

&&

$$
SYNOPSIS...BJL
NEAR TERM...BJL
SHORT TERM...HAS
LONG TERM...HAS
AVIATION...BJL/HAS
MARINE...BJL/HAS
HYDROLOGY...KLEIN/BJL
TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...BJL







USA.gov is the U.S. government's official web portal to all federal, state and local government web resources and services.