


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Charleston, WV
Issued by NWS Charleston, WV
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-- Discussion containing changed information from previous version are highlighted. --485 FXUS61 KRLX 091723 AFDRLX AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Charleston WV 123 PM EDT Wed Jul 9 2025 .SYNOPSIS... Synoptic ascent atop a very moist airmass will yield locally heavy thunderstorms today into tonight. Return to isolated/scattered Thunderstorms for Thursday/Friday. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 605 AM Wednesday... Subsequent runs of convection allowing models after the overnight package haven`t upped confidence levels on placement of any rainfall maxima across the region, thus will forgo any flood watches at this juncture. As of 250 AM Wednesday... Key Messages: * Forcing for ascent atop a moisture laden airmass will yield locally heavy downpours today into tonight * Limited risk for severe weather today with damaging winds as the primary threat * Convective coverage returns to isolated/scattered Thursday through Saturday * More widespread precipitation looks to return next week with a parade of upper level disturbances Mostly clear skies, light winds, and enhanced surface moisture from spotty showers and thunderstorms yesterday have combined to yield at least patchy fog across the valleys this morning. Fog should continue to expand where skies remain clear heading into daybreak, with development somewhat slowed across our far west where mid-level clouds are invading the region. Will monitor trends this morning to determine if a special weather statement for fog is necessary for the morning commute. A moisture laden airmass remains entrenched across much of the southeastern quarter of the continental United States with precipitable water values of 1.75-2.0 inches, generally north of 90th percentile values based on proximity soundings across much of our forecast area. Unlike in the preceding days, today will have a more focused source for forcing for ascent in the form of an approaching mid-level wave and associated right entrance region of an 80-100KT shared energy H250 jet streak. This enhanced forcing should yield relatively early firing of convection, potentially as early as 10 AM across our far west spreading east to our eastern border as early as 2-3 PM. Convection and associated convective debris should limit surface heating at least on a localized basis and coupled with poor mid-level lapse rates of around 5.5C/km associated with the tropically influenced airmass, this should serve to significantly limit destabilization of surface based parcels to at or below 1000-1500J/kg MUCAPE outside of local pockets of strong insolation. While instability is expected to be somewhat more limited than in recent days, forecast profiles continue to display deep warm cloud depths in excess of 10kft and deep but skinny instability profiles yielding highly efficient warm rain process precipitation. Although steering flow will be a bit stronger than in the preceding days, out of the southwest at 20-25 mph, forcing oriented on a SW-NE axis could set the stage for at least some training of convection this afternoon, and with rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour, it won`t take too much dwell time for localized high water issues to start to emerge. At present, forecast guidance is not hitting this especially hard outside of an occasional CAM cycle, with HREF probability matched 6 hour means only showing a few bullets of 1.5 to 1.75 6hr accumulations. Another factor that could limit more widespread high water potential is the general lack of widespread precipitation over the last few days, although a few locations have received the fire hose, outside of those localized maxima amounts over last 72 hours are generally in the 0 to .75 inch range. Will continue to consider a flash flood watch with additional guidance this morning, but at present not seeing enough consistency to garner enough confidence to hoist a product. As previously mentioned, flow will be a little stronger today prompting a bit better potential for updraft organization. The primary threat with any stronger updrafts will be locally damaging wind gusts, but a greater areal threat of severe weather should be limited by the aforementioned cooling effect of early convection with the best chances across our south and east where convection fires latest in the day. Ascent associated with the aforementioned jet streak will remain over southeast Ohio and northeast Kentucky beyond diurnal heating this evening, and any existing storms may linger into the overnight prior to richer column moisture slowly starting to shift east out of the region. && .SHORT TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... As of 250 AM Wednesday... Thursday will see a return to mainly isolated to scattered diurnally driven convection as the tropical moisture plume continues to shift east out of the region, couldn`t rule out some lingering activity Thursday evening as a weak shortwave approaches from the west around sunset. Friday and Saturday should see the least amount of convective coverage (isolated/scattered) for this forecast package as a drier column moves briefly overhead with very subtle ridging. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 250 AM Wednesday... By Sunday, the ridge weakens, allowing a parade of shortwave troughs to approach from the northwest, increasing chances for showers and thunderstorms Sunday through Tuesday. We`ll see a return of higher PWAT values with a resumption of a risk for heavy downpours. Confidence in the details is not especially high due a widening spread of model solutions. && .AVIATION /17Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...-- Changed Discussion --As of 125 PM Wednesday... Scattered showers and strong thunderstorms continue to flourish around the area this afternoon and evening within a hot and muggy environment. A combination of SHRA, VCTS, and TSRA were used to cover today`s precipitation potential, and additional amendments may be warranted if a storm takes a direct path over an airfield. Damaging wind gusts and large hail will attempt to accompany strong storms through tonight. Valley fog will once again be likely late tonight into Thursday morning, especially across sites that obtain measurable rainfall at or near the terminal. Any fog that does form will gradually erode after daybreak and give way to another day conducive for afternoon showers and storms. Outside of storms, surface winds will be light and variable through the period. FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY... FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium. ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Amendments may be warranted today in the event a storm passes close by to a TAF site. Fog could be widespread and dense overnight tonight. EXPERIMENTAL TABLE OF FLIGHT CATEGORY OBJECTIVELY SHOWS CONSISTENCY OF WFO FORECAST TO AVAILABLE MODEL INFORMATION: H = HIGH: TAF CONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL. M = MEDIUM: TAF HAS VARYING LEVEL OF CONSISTENCY WITH MODELS. L = LOW: TAF INCONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL. UTC 1HRLY 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 EDT 1HRLY 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 CRW CONSISTENCY H H H H M H H M M H H H HTS CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H H BKW CONSISTENCY H H H H M M L M M M H H EKN CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H M H H H H PKB CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H H CKB CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H H AFTER 18Z THURSDAY... Brief periods of IFR conditions possible under heavy showers and thunderstorms, mainly during the afternoon and evening hours, each day through the weekend. IFR fog possible during the overnights.-- End Changed Discussion --&& .RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WV...None. OH...None. KY...None. VA...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...JP NEAR TERM...JP SHORT TERM...JP LONG TERM...JP AVIATION...MEK