Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Blacksburg, VA

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997 FXUS61 KRNK 181840 AFDRNK Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 240 PM EDT Tue Jun 18 2024 .SYNOPSIS... High pressure will cover the region through the end of the week. This will result in unseasonably warm temperatures and mainly dry conditions. Any rainfall is expected to be isolated. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
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As of 230 PM EDT Tuesday... Key Messages: 1) Last of isolated showers/storms in the west this afternoon. 2) Drier and warm Wednesday on tap. Some very isolated convection has been pulsing in the western mountains so far this afternoon and has been struggling to be more than showers though a core or two have been able to muster enough lift to generate a few lightning flashes/strikes. The persistent ridge as expected has largely suppressed the environment given some slight retrograding to the west and shifting of the more enhanced moisture axis. Wednesday should be even more dominated by the drier subsidence and have gone without mentionable pops. Progged max highs for Wednesday look to be similar to this afternoon and perhaps just shy of a degree or so.
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&& .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...
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As of 110 PM EDT Tuesday... Key Message: 1) Confidence is high for hot and dry conditions. A 598 dam upper level ridge centered over Delaware and New Jersey will control the weather pattern across the Mid Atlantic during Wednesday night into Thursday. The ridge should slide towards the southwest across the Appalachian Mountains by Friday. Surface high pressure will remain situated off the East Coast during this time. As a result, temperatures will continue to trend hotter with highs in the 90s becoming more common in the lower elevations as this work week concludes. The ridge should keep the atmosphere suppressed with a decent capping inversion preventing any development of showers on Thursday, and any convective activity on Friday should stay to the north across central West Virginia.
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&& .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
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As of 110 PM EDT Tuesday... Key Messages: 1) Confidence is moderate for increasing chances of showers and thunderstorms during the weekend and Monday. 2) Drier air may arrive by Tuesday. The heat persists into the weekend, but the upper level ridge will keep heading southwestward towards the lower Mississippi River Valley as an upper level trough passes over the northern Plains. This trough should cross the Great Lakes by Sunday night into early Monday. A cold front associated with this trough will reach the Appalachian Mountains during this timeframe. Consequently, the chance of showers and thunderstorms will increase on Saturday and peak during Sunday and Monday. It remains questionable on how far southward the cold front could advance by late Monday into Tuesday as it could stall somewhere across the Southeast, but some drier air may arrive from the north on Tuesday to lower the odds of convection.
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&& .AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
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As of 220 PM EDT Tuesday... Mainly VFR conditions through period for most sites. Isolated SHRA/TSRA potential near KLWB this afternoon so have VCSH, otherwise cu field mainly 3500-6000 ft for the sites. Could have some lingering FEW cu overnight, then daytime FEW/SCT cu Wednesday near 5 kft. KLWB could have morning LIFR cigs/vsbys or fog Wednesday. Winds mainly under 10 kts out of the SE or east during the daytimes and calm to light SE tonight. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK... Wednesday through Saturday...High pressure will cover the region. Aside from some morning river fog in the mountain valleys, conditions are expected to be primarily VFR. Little or no chance for rain is expected through Friday... then increase for the weekend.
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&& .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...PM NEAR TERM...AB SHORT TERM...PW LONG TERM...PW AVIATION...PM/AB