Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Newport/Morehead, NC

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802 FXUS62 KMHX 030729 AFDMHX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC 329 AM EDT Mon Jun 3 2024 .SYNOPSIS... High pressure remains off the coast through midweek. A backdoor front will move into the area on Tuesday and stall through Wednesday morning. The weak front will lift back north Wednesday as strong cold front approaches from the west. The front will move through Friday, with cooler and drier conditions expected for the weekend. && .NEAR TERM /TODAY/...
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As of 315 AM Mon... Latest surface analysis shows high pressure centered off the Southeast Coast this morning. This has kept a light S`rly wind across ENC all night allowing temps to remain in the mid 60s to low 70s with little change in temperature expected over the next few hours. Some isolated shower activity is noted mainly along the western Coastal Plain and across the NOBX at this hour with continued isolated shower activity possible through daybreak. As we go through the day today, upper level trough which is currently over the Carolinas this morning will gradually shift offshore by this afternoon. While at the mid levels, a weak shortwave will be rounding the base of this trough and eventually push offshore by this evening. At the surface, high pressure ridging will remain centered offshore resulting in steady south to southwesterly winds at 5-10 mph with sea/river/sound breezes briefly enhancing this flow in the afternoon. This will continue to advect moisture northwards today allowing dewpoints to gradually increase to the mid to upper 60s while PWATs which are currently around 1-1.25 inches increase further to 1.25-1.75 inches by this afternoon. As the aforementioned shortwave moves across the region today it will be the focus for two potential rounds of precip. The first will be in the morning where isolated to widely scattered showers will be possible mainly west of Hwy 17. Have kept PoP`s at 20-25% mainly between 11-14Z to account for this. The second period of precip will likely occur this afternoon and early this evening as the trough eventually pushes offshore. Latest CAM guidance remains split on the overall evolution and specific location of precip so forecast remains low confidence. But, given both deterministic and ensemble guidance have increased precip chances slightly, raised PoP`s mainly west of Hwy 17 to about 30-40% this afternoon. With instability increasing this afternoon as MLCAPE values get to around 750-1250 J/kg, a chance for isolated to widely scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible. A lack of wind shear across the region will preclude any severe threat, though any storm that does develop may bring frequent lightning, gusty winds, and locally heavy rainfall at times this afternoon. Precip chances then begin to decrease once again after sunset. Temps today get into the low to mid 80s.
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&& .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT/...
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As of 315 AM Mon... Weak upper ridging then builds over the Mid-Atlantic this evening while weak shortwaves ride along the periphery of this ridge. This should allow for much of the region to be precip free outside of some isolated showers along the Gulf Stream though can`t discount a few iso showers across the far E`rn zones either. Sfc high remains centered offshore bringing continued S`rly flow to ENC tonight. This will keep things warm and muggy tonight with lows only getting down into the mid 60s to low 70s.
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&& .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 240 AM Mon...Unsettled conditions expected through Thursday with near seasonable temps. A backdoor cold front moves into Eastern NC Tuesday, likely stalling through Wednesday morning, and providing a focus for scattered shower and thunderstorm development. Front lifts back to the north Wednesday, with high pressure strengthening offshore. Increasing southerly flow will bring a surge of moisture into the area through late week with more unsettled conditions through Thursday. A cold front will move through Friday, bringing drier conditions late week into the weekend. Another frontal system may impact the area early next week. Tuesday...A weak backdoor cold front will move into the area Tuesday morning, likely stalling across portions of the area into Tuesday night. In additional to diurnal heating and the seabreeze, this will provide additional focus for afternoon shower and thunderstorm development. Will continue high chance pops. Weak bulk shear (less than 10 kt) should limit svr threat. Temps near climo with highs in the 80s. Wednesday through Thursday...The stalled frontal boundary will lift back north early Wednesday with cold front approaching from the west and high pressure strengthening offshore. This will allow rich moisture (PWATs 1.75-2") to advect in from the west ahead of a potent upper level trough and strong cold front. Increasingly unsettled conditions are likely with a diurnal max in coverage each afternoon, capped pops at high chance for now, with greatest coverage likely Thursday afternoon and evening. Weak shear will limit svr threat, though an isolated strong storm with gusty winds, small hail and heavy rain will be possible. An increase in heat and humidity is also likely as highs climb into the upper 80s to low 90s each afternoon, and it will feel like 95-100 degrees out when factoring the humidity. Friday through Sunday...Cold front looks to move through Friday, though still some uncertainty with respect to timing. 00z guidance shows upper troughing lingering along the east coast through the weekend, depicting drier and slightly cooler conditions across eastern NC. Another frontal system may impact the area early next week. && .AVIATION /07Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
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SHORT TERM /through Monday night/... As of 110 AM Mon... Expecting primarily VFR conditions and south to southwesterly winds through the TAF period across ENC as high pressure remains just offshore today. Sct strato cu around 4-5 kft will prevail, with sct/bkn mid and high clouds persisting. Could see an iso shower esp for wrn taf sites towards morning with a slightly better chance Mon afternoon. Did add in some vicinity showers to PGV/ISO where shower coverage has the highest chance to occur, though current precip forecast remains low confidence. Will likely leave any precip mention out this afternoon once again given even lower confidence in which TAF sites see precip later today though showers and a few thunderstorms will be possible after about 1-2PM especially across the western TAF sites. Precip chances then quickly decrease after sunset from west to east. LONG TERM /Tuesday through Friday/... As of 240 AM Mon...Unsettled conditions expected this week, with best chances for showers and storms Wednesday and Thursday. This could bring some periods of sub-VFR conditions to the terminals.
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&& .MARINE...
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SHORT TERM /Through Monday night/... As of 325 AM Mon... Rather benign boating conditions continue to persist across our waters today as S to SW winds persist at 5-15 kts through the period. Winds could gust around 20 kts across the Gulf Stream waters and larger sounds this afternoon and evening, though expect to remain below small craft criteria regardless. Seas generally remain around 1 to 3 ft along our coastal waters. As a weak trough moves across the area today isolated to widely scattered showers and storms will be possible as well, mainly during the afternoon and evening hours. LONG TERM /Tuesday through Friday/... As of 240 AM Mon...Good boating conditions expected through Wednesday with light to moderate winds. The pressure gradient will tighten Wednesday night into Thursday with SCA conditions possible. A backdoor front may push into the northern and central waters Tuesday, then lift back north Tuesday night and Wednesday. The front will likely bisect the coastal waters into Wed morning, with winds north of the boundary E-SE 10 kt or less, while south of the boundary winds expected to remain SSW 5-15 kt. SSW winds will increase to 15-20 kt Wednesday night, becoming SW 15-25 kt Thursday. The cold front will move through Friday, with gradient relaxing and winds becoming WSW 10-15 kt. Seas will be mostly 2-3 ft through Wednesday, building to 3-6 ft Thursday, then gradually subsiding to 2-4 ft Fri.
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&& .MHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NC...None. MARINE...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...MHX NEAR TERM...RCF SHORT TERM...RCF LONG TERM...CQD/SGK AVIATION...CQD/RCF MARINE...CQD/RCF