Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Newport/Morehead, NC

Current Version |  Previous Version |  Text Only |  Print | Product List |  Glossary On
Versions: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
-- Highlight Changed Discussion --
-- Discussion containing changed information from previous version are highlighted. --
338 FXUS62 KMHX 270528 AFDMHX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC 128 AM EDT Mon May 27 2024 .SYNOPSIS... A cold front will then move through Monday night or Tuesday. Conditions dry slightly Tuesday and Wednesday before the next front passes late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. Cooler temps and lower dew points follow in its wake. && .NEAR TERM /OVERNIGHT/...
-- Changed Discussion --
As of 115 AM Monday... - Overnight strong to severe thunderstorm risk A small MCS continues to move east across portions of ENC at this time. There have been numerous reports of 35-45 mph wind gusts, and occasionally some taller cores have developed right along the advancing outflow boundary, with an enhanced wind potential. It appears this MCS will survive all the way to the coast, although the expectation is that the severe weather potential will continue to decrease as it encounters lower instability to the east. Adjustments were made to reflect this expectation over the next several hours. PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...Mostly dry across Eastern NC this evening, with warm and humid conditions continuing. Main focus for tonight will be the evolution of a rather large MCS that has formed across the Appalachians, and is now heading eastward from upstate VA/NC. Whether or not any showers and thunderstorms from this complex make it to ENC is the question, as high res guidance remains mixed. Will maintain scattered chances for precip for most of tonight across the coastal plain and northern reaches of the forecast area. If convection does hold together there is a small chance for some of the cells to be strong to severe as instability will remain through early tonight along with moderate deep layer shear. The most likely outcome though is that the complex is weakening and only light thunderstorms or showers move into the area. Above normal temps overnight, with lows only falling into the upper 60s to low 70s. Pesky dense sea fog along the northern Outer Banks has finally dissipated this afternoon. However, several of the high res models bring back it back this evening and overnight. Think this is too pessimistic with winds picking up, so just kept some patchy fog wording...though locally dense sea fog will be possible, mainly impacting the beaches north of Oregon Inlet.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .SHORT TERM /MONDAY/... As of 3 PM Sun...Active wx day with potential for severe weather and potentially the hottest day of the year thus far. Strong low pressure will continue to lift into the Great Lakes, pushing the attendant cold front eastward into the Carolinas, while strong shortwave rotates through the flow aloft. SPC has upgraded the area to a Slight Risk for severe weather. Severe wx threat for the area may hinge on a few different factors, first one being the MCS expected to develop and move through TN/SC/GA Mon morning. This could bring cluster of showers and iso storms to eastern NC Monday morning and early afternoon. *If* this were to happen it could limit afternoon/evening tstm risk. However, the environment will be supportive for strong to severe convection, with ML CAPE values 2500-3000 J/kg, very strong deep layer shear 40-50 kt, 0-3 km SRH 200-300 m2/s2, and steep mid level lapse rates. Damaging wind gusts, isolated tornadoes, large hail and locally heavy rain will all be possible. Limiting factors for strong to severe development will be the capping inversion and possible morning precip. So still uncertainty with the svr risk, but the potential is certainly there, with best chances after Mon afternoon and evening. In addition to severe wx risk - temps will climb into the low 90s inland and 80s for the beaches. Combined with dewpoints in the 70s will make it feel close to 100 deg for much of the area. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 400 AM Sunday...A complex upper-level pattern will keep the beginning of the long term busy. Cold front will move through Mon night into early Tue. Tuesday-Wednesday...PoPs decrease from west to east on Tuesday as we settle into the slightly cooler and drier post-frontal air mass. Temps will reach the mid- to upper-80s both days with afternoon dew points in the refreshing mid-50s by Wednesday. Thursday-Sunday...The next cold front is set to pass late Wednesday/early Thursday. This will bring in a cooler air mass and limit highs each day to the low- to mid-80s across the coastal plain. The beaches will hang back in the 70s. The forecast remains dry until the end of the weekend when the next potent shortwave introduces slight chance (20-25%) PoPs across the area. It should be noted, however, that other shortwaves will be embedded within the flow prior to the one on Sunday, and it`s possible that PoPs trend up. && .AVIATION /06Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
-- Changed Discussion --
SHORT TERM /through 06z Tuesday/... As of 115 AM Monday... - Multiple rounds of TSRA possible over the next 24 hrs A cluster of TSRA is moving through Eastern NC at this time with gusty winds to 40kt. Occasionally, there have been a few stronger cores with higher gusts (potentially as high as 50kt). A general weakening trend is expected over the next 1-3 hours. Attention then turns to another cluster of TSRA back to the west in the TN Valley, and whether or not that will hold together to the coast. If so, there would be another risk of strong wind gusts of 40kt+. Another scenario is that those TSRA weaken as they cross the southern Appalachians, with additional TSRA developing from the SW, moving NE across the area. Stay tuned for updates through Monday evening. It should be noted that in the 2nd scenario mentioned above, there would be a greater risk for 50kt+ wind gusts, hail, and maybe even a tornado. Where TSRA occur, there will also be an increased risk of sub-VFR conditions. LONG TERM /Monday night through Friday/... As of 400 AM Sunday...Showers and thunderstorms are expected Monday night with a drying trend setting up after that. Periods of sub-VFR conditions are to be expected but flight cats should remain VFR outside of convection.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .MARINE... SHORT TERM /through Monday/... As of 10 PM Sun...Latest obs show light SE-S winds 5-10 kt with seas 1-2 ft. Winds will begin to pick up a bit overnight, increasing to 5-15 kt. Gradient tightens Monday ahead of the cold front, with SSW winds increasing to 15-25 kt and seas building to 3-4 ft Monday afternoon and evening. Have issued SCAs for the coastal waters and sounds beginning Mon afternoon. Sct showers and storms expected Mon, may bring stronger to severe storms late Mon. Pesky dense sea fog along the northern Outer Banks has finally dissipated this afternoon. However, several of the high res models bring back it back this evening and overnight. Think this is too pessimistic with winds picking up, so just kept some patchy fog wording...though locally dense sea fog will be possible, mainly waters north of Oregon Inlet. LONG TERM /Monday night through Friday/... As of 4 AM Sunday...SW flow 15-25 kt by Monday night with seas 3-6 ft. Conditions improve Tuesday with SW flow returning to 10-15 kt and seas decreasing to 2-4 ft. 10 kt winds wobble between northwesterly and southwesterly on Wednesday. Another front late Wednesday/early Thursday will turn 10 kt winds northwesterly by morning and northeasterly by evening. && .MHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
-- Changed Discussion --
NC...None. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to midnight EDT tonight for AMZ131-230-231. Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to 4 AM EDT Tuesday for AMZ135-150. Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to 6 AM EDT Tuesday for AMZ152-154-156-158.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& $$ SYNOPSIS...MHX NEAR TERM...RM/CQD/SGK SHORT TERM...CQD LONG TERM...OJC AVIATION...RM/OJC MARINE...CQD/OJC