Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Binghamton, NY

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581 FXUS61 KBGM 211945 AFDBGM Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Binghamton NY 345 PM EDT Tue May 21 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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Summer like weather expected this evening into the day on Wednesday with hot temperatures. There will be isolated thunderstorms this evening, with more widespread thunderstorms expected Wednesday afternoon and evening. A few of the storms could be strong to severe. A cold front then settles south of the region giving us a short break with mostly sunny skies and warm temperatures on Friday. A series of disturbances brings chances for showers and thunderstorms Saturday and again on Memorial Day, with seasonable temperatures expected.
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&& .NEAR TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
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345 PM Update Thunderstorms are firing up as expected mainly outside of our forecast area so far this afternoon (over the Adirondacks and eastern Catskills/Hudson Valley region. The next weak wave and surface convergence is developing over western NY now, and this may be enough of a trigger to start some scattered thunderstorm activity over the northern Finger Lakes, Syracuse metro and Mohawk Valley heading into the evening hours. MLCAPE is 1000-1500 J/kg, with LIs down to -5 in this area as of 3 PM. There is some lingering surface based CIN present too. Effective layer shear is pushing 25-30 kts, with the supercell parameter between 1-2, showing some potential for a storm or two to become organized this evening...if it can tap into the full column of convective available potential energy. Any t`storm activity will wane to lingering showers by 9-10 pm with dry weather returning overnight. Overnight lows will be in the upper 50s to mid-60s for most locations. Model guidance was not showing much fog potential tonight. Wednesday starts off dry, mostly sunny and very warm. The south-southwest winds boost temperatures well up into the 80s with low 90s in the valley locations. By mid to late afternoon some thunderstorm activity will begin to develop over western NY and western PA...these storms will then press east through the late afternoon and evening hours along the pre-frontal trough. The environment continues to look favorable for some isolated strong to severe storms to develop. MLCAPE will be close to 2000 J/Kg, with DCAPE values 800-1100 J/kg also expected. Deep layer shear is lacking, only around 20 kts...but the ample instability and good directional shear may be enough to strengthen storms. There is a slight risk for severe storms over the western half of the forecast areas from SPC, with a marginal risk further east. The main threat will be isolated instances of damaging winds and even a chance for some 1"+ hail. With ample CAPE, frequent lightning and heavy downpours will also be possible with any storms. Current best timing estimate are 3-7 PM along and west of I-81...then 6-10 PM southeast of I-81 in Central NY and NE PA. After the evening thunderstorms exit, there could still be some showers and isolated thunderstorms overnight as the front/trough stalls over the region. It will be rather muggy for late May, with lows in the 60s areawide.
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&& .SHORT TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... 350 AM update... Scattered showers and potentially a few stronger thunderstorms are expected to continue into the early evening hours Wednesday night before becoming more isolated in nature later on with the loss of daytime heating. Lows Wednesday night will be in the 60s and with dew points not much lower than the actual temperature, it will have a little bit of a muggy feel to it. The cold front responsible for the convection late Wednesday will stall out across NE PA and the southern Catskills Thursday. A weak surface low will move northeast along the boundary aiding in the development of additional scattered showers and thunderstorms with the convection most concentrated near the boundary. Dew points in this area will reach the mid 60s and shear values look decent, but CAPE and mid-level lapse rates are not as high compared to late Wednesday/Wednesday evening. Highs Thursday will be generally in the 70s, but near 80 degrees in the Wyoming Valley and southern Sullivan County. Cooler, drier air will filter in Thursday night and skies will be clearing out as surface high pressure builds in. Lows Thursday night will fall back into the 50s. Friday looks largely dry with some sunshine and a comfortably warm afternoon with dew points in the 50s and highs ranging from the mid 70s to the low 80s in some valley locations. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... 350 AM update... Later Friday night through Saturday features a low chance (25%-40%) of showers and isolated thunderstorms as a upper level shortwave lifts northeastward toward our area. Some additional moisture may try to stream in from the north from a broad shortwave trough that is expected to pass by to our north and west. Sunday looks dry before an area of low pressure and associated cold front brings the chance for showers and thunderstorms back into the area Monday. Highs Saturday and Sunday are expected to be in the 70s with lows in the 50s at night. Monday`s highs look to be a little lower from the upper 60s into the low and mid 70s. && .AVIATION /20Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... 150 PM Update VFR conditions to prevail throughout the TAF period. The one thing to watch will be the potential for scattered thunderstorms in the vicinity of SYR and RME from about 21z to 01z this evening. Included a tempo at these two taf sites for this potential. Confidence is low to moderate in a thunderstorm directly impacting the TAF sites at this time. Otherwise, there will be a few to sct mid and high level clouds around through the period. Expected a general light southwesterly wind during the daytime hours. There could be a diurnal wind shift at RME, ITH, AVP and ELM to more east- southeast or calm winds overnight. Southwest winds resume by late Wednesday morning and into the early afternoon hours. Outlook... Wednesday afternoon...Scattered showers and thunderstorms with restrictions, highest chances from 19z to 02z. Wednesday night through Friday night...Mainly VFR. Patchy early morning valley fog possible. Saturday... Restrictions possible with scattered showers and thunderstorms. Sunday...Mainly VFR expected. && .BGM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...None. NY...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...MJM/MWG NEAR TERM...MJM SHORT TERM...DK LONG TERM...DK AVIATION...MJM