Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Knoxville/Tri Cities, TN

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576 FXUS64 KMRX 021108 AAA AFDMRX Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Morristown TN 708 AM EDT Thu May 2 2024 ...New AVIATION... .SHORT TERM... (Today and tonight) Issued at 252 AM EDT Thu May 2 2024 Key Messages: 1. Above normal temperatures and dry conditions continue. 2. Chance of rain enters southern sections late tonight. Discussion: A large high pressure ridge through the column will be centered to our east over the Carolinas. This will provide a deep S-SW flow across the TN Valley. A dry, cloud-free column will allow temperatures to reach full sun highs in the mid to upper 80s in most spots. This will be a few degrees short of record highs. A shortwave trough at the 700-500 mb level will cross the MS Valley in the evening and continue E-NE overnight. Lift ahead of this trough will begin to spread some showers into the southern Plateau in the 09-12Z time frame. && .LONG TERM... (Friday through Wednesday) Issued at 252 AM EDT Thu May 2 2024 Key Messages: 1. Near normal to above normal temperatures through the long term. 2. Unsettled pattern with chances for showers and thunderstorms each day of the long term. More diurnal pattern of convection last three days of the period Tuesday through Thursday next week. Discussion: Friday the upper ridge that has been over us the last day or so begins to push east and a broad longwave trough approaches from the west. Lower pressure over southern Canada will be moving north and a weak cold front extending southward through the lower Ohio Valley and into Arkansas that is accompanying the trough will slowly move east southeast. Showers and some thunderstorms are expected to develop out ahead of it during the day Friday with initial shortwave. CAPE values reach 1000 to 1500 J/KG during the day so with some heating into the lower 80s thunderstorms should form. Not expecting any severe storms but gusty winds possible and small hail. The front only very slowly moves east and second shortwave comes through Saturday into Saturday night with more showers and thunderstorms developing, Highs Saturday will be cooler with more clouds only mid 70s to near 80. Rain chances will be high both days. On Sunday either a wave forms to the west and moves along the front or a secondary front develops so have another good chance of showers and storms Sunday. Monday, the upper level ridging rebuilds back into the forecast area. The frontal system Sunday lifts back northward as a warm front but at the same time another in the parade of shortwaves will follow the western part of the ridge and cause storms to redevelop during the day Monday. For Tuesday through Thursday similar conditions with daytime heating and higher instability being favorable for more afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms. The activity looks more diurnal with 20 percent chance in the south and 30 percent central and northern areas. A longwave trough will be over the north central states and the northeast with a front farther to the north of the forecast area near the base of this trough. There is some indication these storms could be stronger with higher CAPE values. It will depend on where and when storms develop and cloud cover from each days convection. && .AVIATION...
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(12Z TAFS) Issued at 706 AM EDT Thu May 2 2024 TAFs will be VFR but there is some uncertainty about CHA in the next hour, as the ob reports MIFG and SCT005. Expect that this will not result in lower vis/cigs at the runway, but it cannot be ruled out. Today will be mostly sunny with light wind, although CHA may have S wind approaching 10 kt. Showers will begin to move into the area from the west late in the period, and VCSH will be mentioned at CHA.
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&& .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Chattanooga Airport, TN 88 65 81 65 / 0 30 60 70 Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport, TN 87 61 81 64 / 0 10 70 70 Oak Ridge, TN 87 62 81 63 / 0 10 70 60 Tri Cities Airport, TN 85 57 82 62 / 0 0 40 60 && .MRX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NC...NONE. TN...NONE. VA...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...DGS LONG TERM....TD AVIATION...DGS