Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Sterling, VA

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815 FXUS61 KLWX 271910 AFDLWX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 310 PM EDT Mon May 27 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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A potent cold front will track through the Mid-Atlantic this evening and into the overnight. A secondary cold front moves in by mid-week before high pressure builds in by Friday.
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&& .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
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A potent cold front is set to push through the Mid-Atlantic this evening and into tonight, bringing severe weather to the area. With a warm and humid air mass in place today, moderate instability (SBCAPE 1500-2500 J/kg) is expected with highest values along and east of I-95, especially in northeast Maryland. As of 2PM, a few showers are moving through the forecast area along and east of I-95 with skies beginning to clear along and west of the Blue Ridge. As the rain showers move out of the area and clearing skies move eastward, instability is expected to increase this afternoon and into this evening. Convective initiation is expected in the next hour or so with some storms already beginning to pop up. Once convection initializes, damaging wind gusts continue to be the primary hazard type with strengthening wind fields and destabilization of the atmosphere. Large hail is possible in discrete cells along with an isolated tornado threat with a slight curve in model hodographs. PW values of 1.5-2 inches, with isolated pockets of 2"+ in NE MD, will lead to isolated instances of heavy rainfall. WPC has the northeastern portions of the area in a slight risk for excessive rainfall. Adequate storm motion should limit flooding risk, but any training or back building could lead to an increased hydro threat. High temperatures this afternoon will be in the upper 70s to lower 80s with overnight lows dipping into the upper 50s-60s.
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&& .SHORT TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
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Tuesday will start out dry in the wake of a cold front and with dry air aloft. An approaching cold front from the west will bring increased precipitation chances to those along and west of the Alleghenies, but any precipitation should remain light. High temperatures will be in the 70s to low 80s with overnight temperatures dipping into the 50s for most. Unsettled weather returns Wednesday as an upper level trough and shortwave energy track overhead. With more moisture aloft and increased instability, a few thunderstorms are possible. The aforementioned cold front will move over the forecast area Wednesday evening and into the overnight. High temperatures will continue to gradually cool with those at higher elevations topping out in the 60s to low 70s. Elsewhere, high temperatures will be in the 70s. Overnight low temperatures will dip into the 40s to 50s.
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&& .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
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The area will still be under the upper trough Thursday. However, much drier air will be in place with dew points in the 40s. There will still be enough instability due to the cold air aloft for cloud development and perhaps an isolated shower. Highs will be in the lower to mid 70s. Lows will drop back into the mid 40s to mid 50s. The trough axis will start to progress off to the east Friday while high pressure remains to the northwest. This will result in another day of below normal temperatures within northwesterly flow. Sunny skies are expected, with high temperatures generally in the lower to mid 70s. High pressure will build in from the Great Lakes Friday night. With clear skies, light to calm winds, and dewpoints only in the low to mid 40s, it will be a chilly first night of June, with low temperatures dropping back into the 40s to near 50 for most. The cold pockets in the higher elevations could approach freezing. Narrow upper ridging will build overhead next weekend, before the flow flattens out and turns more zonal in nature early next week. High pressure at the surface will move overhead Saturday morning, before progressing offshore later Saturday into Sunday. As this happens, a slight warming trend in temperatures will occur. Some uncertainty exists on when the next shortwave troughs will suppress the ridge. The forecast carries gradually increasing chances for showers and thunderstorms Sunday and Monday.
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&& .AVIATION /18Z MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
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Showers and thunderstorms are likely to impact the main terminals this afternoon. The highest risk is at BWI and MTN where the conditions are most favorable for convection. Storms will impact DCA and IAD as well, though conditions are less favorable and thunderstorm coverage may not be as widespread as BWI and MTN. The thunderstorm risk at MRB and CHO continue to diminish as the threat increases eastward. Severe wind gusts are possible particularly at BWI, DCA, and MTN in any thunderstorms. Reduced visibilities and ceilings are likely during showers and thunderstorms this afternoon. Southwesterly winds shift to westerly this evening. Most likely timing for thunderstorms in the metros is 4pm-8pm with the threat out of the area by 10pm. VFR and dry conditions are expected thursday at all terminals with any precipitation remaining out to the west. Afternoon showers and thunderstorms are possible again on Wednesday. VFR conditions are expected outside of any showers and thunderstorms. Winds remain out of the west/northwest. VFR conditions expected Thursday and Friday as high pressure builds in from the northwest. An isolated convective shower remains possible Thursday afternoon. A few northwesterly wind gusts may also reach 20 kt Thursday afternoon.
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&& .MARINE...
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Southerly winds shift to westerly this evening with SCA conditions expected through tonight. SMWs are likely, especially in the northern portions of the Tidal Potomac and Chesapeake Bay as showers and thunderstorms move over the waters. Winds remain out of the west on Tuesday and Wednesday and are expected to remain below SCA criteria. The exception is the northern part of the Chesapeake Bay, where SCA criteria winds are expected Tuesday morning and into the afternoon. Northwesterly flow continues Thursday and Friday. Marginal SCA conditions may linger for portions of the waters Thursday into Thursday night. & .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... With increasing south/southeast flow, there will be a higher chance of minor flooding during the next two high tide cycles. Straits Point, Annapolis, and DC SW Waterfront will be most susceptible with minor flooding forecast at each. Westerly winds behind a cold front will lead to decreasing anomalies through the middle of the week.
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&& .LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
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DC...None. MD...None. VA...None. WV...None. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for ANZ530- 535-536-538. Small Craft Advisory from 11 AM to 6 PM EDT Tuesday for ANZ530- 531-539. Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM EDT Tuesday for ANZ531>534-537- 539>543.
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&& $$ SYNOPSIS...AVS NEAR TERM...AVS SHORT TERM...AVS LONG TERM...ADS AVIATION...ADS/AVS MARINE...ADS/AVS TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...LFR/AVS