Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Blacksburg, VA

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428 FXUS61 KRNK 161726 AFDRNK Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 126 PM EDT Sun Jun 16 2024 .SYNOPSIS... High pressure will cover the region through the end of the week. This will result in unseasonably warm temperatures and a limited chance of showers and thunderstorms. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH MONDAY/...
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As of 110 PM EDT Sunday... Key message: - Mountain scattered showers/storms Monday, otherwise warming up Not too bad for Father`s Day but a tick up in the humidity. Moisture in the low levels continues to track across the southern Blue Ridge into the southside VA, with some moisture convergence along the escarpment to generate showers, that have shifted northeast into the NW NC piedmont but very little coverage. Will still likely see some pop up coverage this afternoon across far southwest VA into NW NC away from the influence of the high where better theta-e ridging and low level convergence occurs. Tonight, models have any showers fading but southeast flow persists so kept some low chance of showers in over far southwest VA into the NC mountains/foothill. The 5h ridge expected to stay overhead Monday. Models showing more coverage over the mountains and moreso toward the TN Valley as weak upper vort combined with heating/moisture allow for some storm development. Confidence is not very high on coverage Monday but have upped pops to 30-40 from the Alleghanys to the NC Blue Ridge and points west with little to no chances east of the Blue Ridge of VA. Any storms that fire up will propagate west to east but flow is weak, so with pwats up to 1.5" storms could bring some heavy downpours. Dewpoints also increase Monday so heat indices start to get up into the lower to mid 90s east of the mountains with highs ranging from near 90 east to upper 70s to mid 80s mountains. Any cloud cover from the storms and residual low level clouds tonight could limit the heat.
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&& .SHORT TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
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As of 1230 PM EDT Sunday... Key Messages: 1) Confidence is high for a warming trend to ensue. 2) Rain chances will vanish by the middle of the week. Lingering showers and thunderstorms should retreat westward and fade after sunset, which will allow the remainder of Monday night to become dry. Surface high pressure should remain off the East Coast to provide a southeasterly breeze across the Mid Atlantic during Tuesday and Wednesday. Meanwhile, a strong upper level ridge will build across the Northeast with 500 mb heights peaking at an impressive 600 dam just off the coasts of New Jersey and New York. This ridge should suppress any rain chances by the middle of the week, and the plentiful sunshine should allow high temperatures to rise into the lower 80s to the lower 90s.
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&& .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
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As of 1230 PM EDT Sunday... Key Messages: 1) Confidence is high for the first heat wave of 2024 to arrive just in time for the summer solstice. 2) A chance of showers and thunderstorms may return by the weekend. The summer solstice starts at 4:51 PM EDT on Thursday, and it will definitely feel like summer has arrived as the first heat wave of 2024 takes place across the Mid Atlantic. An anomalously strong upper level ridge will keep conditions hot and dry through Thursday and Friday. Temperatures should soar into the mid 80s to the mid 90s by the end of the week. While heat indices appear to stay below 100 degrees, plans should still be made to have plenty of fluids, sunscreen, and ways to stay cool if preparing for any outdoor activities during the latter half of the week. By Saturday, the models are indicating an upper level trough should enter the northern Plains. The upper level ridge over the Mid Atlantic would slowly weaken as the aforementioned trough approaches the Great Lakes by Sunday. Chances of showers and thunderstorms will start to tick upward in the mountains during Saturday afternoon and could increase further by Sunday afternoon. Temperatures may begin to drop slightly as the weekend progresses due to increasing clouds and the potential for afternoon convection.
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&& .AVIATION /17Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
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As of 123 PM EDT Sunday... Expecting southeast to southwest wind around surface high pressure over the northeast United States through Monday. This will result in light upslope flow along the east side of the southern Appalachians. Mainly VFR but some MVFR cigs possible especially late tonight into Monday morning. Shower/storm chances still too low to have in tafs, with best chance southwest of an MKJ-MWK line this afternoon. May see better coverage of storms Monday afternoon southwest of a line from BLF-GEV. Average confidence for ceiling, visibility, and wind. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK... High pressure will cover the region this week. Aside for some morning river fog in the mountain valleys, conditions are expected to be primarily VFR. The chance of showers and thunderstorms will be low.
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&& .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...AMS/WP NEAR TERM...AMS/WP SHORT TERM...PW LONG TERM...PW AVIATION...AMS/BMG/WP