


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Raleigh/Durham, NC
Issued by NWS Raleigh/Durham, NC
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-- Discussion containing changed information from previous version are highlighted. --091 FXUS62 KRAH 280556 AFDRAH Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Raleigh NC 156 AM EDT Sat Jun 28 2025 .SYNOPSIS... A backdoor front will become quasi-stationary over southern VA and far northern NC through tonight, then return north as a warm front across the Middle Atlantic coast on Saturday. A mid and upper-level ridge will otherwise weaken while drifting from the southern Middle Atlantic to near and east of Bermuda this weekend. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 900 PM Friday... Afternoon and early evening storms have diminished quite rapidly in the past hour, owing to less heating and the influence of numerous outflows. Most of the southern Piedmont, Sandhills and coastal plain have been worked over, but there are still some areas, especially in the north-central Piedmont where MRMS WPE is void of any rainfall today. 00Z surface analysis suggest the frontal zone previously over south-central VA has slipped into the northern Piedmont with the help of convection outflow, and there is a general region of convergence from west to east north of I-40. The KGSO raob and forecast soundings also indicate moderate MUCAPE still present, and as noted in the previous discussion, a weak but non- negligible LLJ at 925mb into the boundary area should continue to support some convection initiation overnight. This is supported by at least some HRRR reflectivity (through multiple model runs) across the north as late as 09Z. This would be very isolated, but it seems worth keeping a slight chance POP for a few more hours. Otherwise, SREF probabilities suggest better stratus coverage will remain well north of the boundary, but we could see some patchy stratus and fog in the relatively rain-cooled areas, again mostly focused closer to the NC/VA border. Lows 70-74. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY... As of 355 PM Friday... The mid/upr-level pattern over the Southeast will weaken/flatten, as the long-standing heat-producing ridge from recent days drifts toward Bermuda and weakens, and a mid/upr-level low weakens over the srn Appalachians. Sly flow between the two will direct a plume of high PWs (ie. 1.8 to 2") across cntl NC. At the surface, a backdoor front, and probable early morning overcast over far nrn NC and especially VA in the morning, will retreat nwd across the Middle Atlantic coast through the day, while a persistent Piedmont/Sandhills trough will otherwise continue to extend swwd across cntl NC. With little to no change in airmass over cntl NC, temperatures should be generally persistent, unseasonably hot ones mostly in the lwr-mid 90s that will contribute to a moderately unstable and weakly inhibited airmass once again by early afternoon. Pulse cells should tend to focus along the surface trough and subsequent outflow over the Piedmont/Sandhills, with lesser chances/coverage in the Coastal Plain. A combination of continued weak deep layer flow and high PWs will favor brief downpours and a mainly urban flood risk, and strong to tree-damaging downburst winds. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... As of 300 PM Friday... * Typical summer pattern across NC much of this week with above normal temperatures and daily shower/thunderstorm chances * Increased shower/storm chances Tuesday/Wednesday, turning drier Thursday/Friday The forecast will feature a fairly typical summertime pattern through early next week with Bermuda high pressure in place at the surface and aloft. Daily shower and thunderstorm chances are expected through Monday, with the highest chances generally favored in the western Piedmont. Afternoon highs will top out in the low to mid 90s with lows generally in the lows 70s (west) to the mid/upper 70s (southern Coastal Plain). Heat indices will once again range from the upper 90s to lower 100s. Certainly not cool, but not as high as what was seen earlier this week. Looking ahead to Tuesday, a longwave trough will migrate out of the northern Plains, sharpening as it approaches the western slopes of the Appalachians. Modest moisture advection ahead of the trough and the attendant surface front should promote the development of more widespread shower and thunderstorm activity across the area Tuesday afternoon and evening. PW`s will top out around 2" ahead of the front and with MLCAPEs running anywhere from 1000-1500 J/KG, areal coverage of storms should be noticeably higher than previous days. With synoptically driven support in the form of the trough, some some storms could be strong to severe. There is still some inherent uncertainty at this lead time with respect to how far south this front will make it before washing out/dissipating but the threat for more widespread precip chances is certainly agreed upon by the models. PoPs will range anywhere from 60-80 percent Tuesday afternoon/evening, with the highest values in the west. The front should slowly sag through the area Wednesday, eventually stalling/washing out across the Sandhills/southern Coastal Plain on Thursday. In the wake of the trough, mid level subsidence and drying should yield lesser precip chances Thursday and Friday. Temps Tuesday through Thursday will once again range from the low to mid 90s, with overnight lows in the low to mid 70s. The exception will be Wednesday when highs may only reach the upper 80s with the front overhead and associated increased cloud cover. && .AVIATION /06Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...-- Changed Discussion --As of 155 AM Saturday... 24 hour TAF period: Lingering storms near KINT/KGSO will continue for the first couple/few hours of the period, with the potential for some increased winds and reduced cigs/vsbys where they occur. Otherwise and elsewhere, winds should be generally calm to light through daybreak, increasing a couple/few kts during the day and becoming mainly sly-swly during the aft. While most of the period should be VFR, MVFR/IFR vsbys may again develop at KRWI in the pre- dawn hours, and given the convection today, IFR/LIFR cigs will be possible at KINT/KGSO. Any restrictions that materialize should begin clearing up after daybreak. Expect scattered showers/storms again this aft/eve, accompanied by the usual restrictions. Outlook: There will be the chance for diurnally driven convection through the weekend, increasing in chances and coverage mid-week. Otherwise, VFR conditions should generally prevail.-- End Changed Discussion --&& .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...MWS NEAR TERM...BLS SHORT TERM...MWS LONG TERM...Leins AVIATION...KC