Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Newport/Morehead, NC

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626 FXUS62 KMHX 231856 AFDMHX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC 256 PM EDT Sun Jun 23 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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High pressure remains offshore through tonight. A front will move through late Monday, with another front impacting the region Thursday.
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&& .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
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As of 255 PM Sun...Latest analysis shows high pressure anchored offshore, weak low along the SC coast and cold front moving into the OH valley. Isolated seabreeze showers continue to pop up along the Hwy 17 corridor this afternoon. This activity should diminish with loss of heating early this evening. Heat Advisory continues through early this evening for much of the area with potential for heat index values around 105 deg. As the front approaches overnight there will be increasing upper level support for the development of showers and thunderstorms across the coastal waters combined with weak remnant low pressure lifting along the Carolina coast. Most of the precip will likely remain offshore, though precip could skirt the immediate coast (best chances from Cape Lookout to Cape Hatteras). Breezy conditions will continue tonight ahead of an approaching cold front, as warm and muggy conditions persist. Lows only falling into the upper 70s to around 80 deg.
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&& .SHORT TERM /MONDAY/...
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As of 255 PM Sun...Early Monday morning, a weak area of low pressure (the remnants of the SW Atlantic tropical wave) may be skirting the Crystal Coast and southern OBX with showers and thunderstorms. After this wave moves away, a potent shortwave crossing the NE US will push a cold front southeast across ENC. This front will be favorably timed with peak heating and the development of the afternoon seabreeze, setting up a period of moderate low-level forcing. Southerly flow ahead of the front will support dewpoints in the 70s. Heating of the moist boundary layer should support moderate instability (MLCAPE of 1500-2500 j/kg). Shear will be on the marginal side (20-30kt), but still more than sufficient for organized convection. Scattered to numerous thunderstorms expected to develop during the afternoon and evening, posing a risk of damaging winds and large hail. Clustering of storms plus 2"+ PWATs will also favor a risk of very heavy rain and minor flooding. It`s been very dry of late, though, so the flash flood threat appears low. Best chances look to be areas along and east of Hwy 17. Combination of temps in the 90s inland and dewpoints in the 70s may support a risk for dangerous heat across the area. However, right now it looks marginal and with increasing cloud cover and precip chances will hold off on potential heat advisory at this time and let the later shifts re-evaluate.
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&& .LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...
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As of 230 AM Sunday... - Increased heat risk continues, especially mid to late-week Synoptic Summary: Upper level troughing will dominate the Eastern U.S. through mid to late-week, then upper level ridging begins to expand east across the Southern U.S. by next weekend. At the surface, a couple of cold fronts are forecast to move through the Carolinas, one on Monday evening, and the other on Thursday. Tuesday-Wednesday: Guidance continue to suggest Monday`s front will get enough of a push to get all the way through ENC, setting up a less humid, and more stable, post-frontal airmass on Tuesday. Fronts tend to get hung up this time of year, and the front should quickly return north as a warm front Tuesday night. This will allow humidity to return by Wednesday. Outside of the seabreeze, the convective coverage looks to be low on Wednesday. Thursday-Sunday: Continued southerly flow should once again support higher dewpoints and humidity overlapped with above normal temperatures and an increased risk of heat impacts. This will especially be the case by the weekend with ridging overhead and a lower risk of thunderstorms/clouds. On Thursday, another decent cold front is forecast to move through the area, and guidance continue to show a solid signal for another round of scattered to numerous thunderstorms, some possibly on the strong side. Outside of Thursday, it appears the convective coverage will be closer to climo, and mainly seabreeze-driven.
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&& .AVIATION /18Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
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SHORT TERM /through Monday/... As of 255 PM Sun...VFR conditions currently across the area with sct to broken cu. Isolated showers and tstms expected through early this evening, which could temporarily impact the TAF sites. SSW winds will continue to gust to 20-25 kt through early evening. Tonight, additional influx of low level moisture will make for favorable conditions once again for low level stratus to form across Eastern NC. Current guidance suggests a more widespread area, though mostly 1000-2000 ft cloud bases, beginning around midnight and lasting potentially through mid morning Monday. Best chances will be at EWN and OAJ. A cold front will move through Monday with an increased risk of TSRA and sub-VFR conditions Mon afternoon and evening. Where TSRA occur, there will be the potential for 40kt+ gusts and hail. LONG TERM /Monday night through Friday/... As of 230 AM Sunday...Predominantly VFR conditions are expected Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by another increased risk of TSRA by Thursday.
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&& .MARINE...
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SHORT TERM /through Monday/... As of 255 PM Sun...Latest obs show SW winds 15-25 kt with seas 2-4 ft. Conditions will continue to deteriorate ahead of an approaching cold front tonight. SSW winds will peak at 15-25 kt with gusts 25-30 kt tonight into Monday morning. The presence of a strengthening low level jet overnight may lead to a brief few hours of Gale Force winds/wind gusts, especially in and around any scattered showers. SCAs remain in effect for the coastal waters, sounds and rivers and will continue into Mon morning and evening. Seas will peak at 5-7 ft overnight. SW winds 15-25 kt will continue Mon with 4-6 ft seas. A cold front will move through the waters late Monday and Monday evening and will feature an increased risk of thunderstorms. Some storms may be strong to severe Monday afternoon and evening. LONG TERM /Monday night through Friday/... As of 230 AM Sunday... - Elevated winds and seas return mid-week A post-frontal regime will briefly setup on Tuesday with easterly winds of 5-15kt and lower seas. Southerly flow then quickly returns by Wednesday and Thursday, with building seas.
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&& .FIRE WEATHER...
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As of 255 PM Sun... - Elevated fire concerns possible through this evening Southerly winds will gust 25-30 mph through this evening. With moisture increasing, RH values will remain elevated this afternoon, bottoming out only in the 40 to 50% range. However, given how dry it has been in the last few weeks, the breezy conditions in the presence of drier fine fuels is noteworthy, especially for any fire that manages to develop, or any ongoing fires. Wetting rainfall is still possible on Monday, especially along and east of Hwy 17, and again Thursday.
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&& .MHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
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NC...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for NCZ029-044>047- 079>081-090>092-094-193-194-198. Beach Hazards Statement until 8 PM EDT this evening for NCZ195- 196-204-205. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 8 AM EDT Monday for AMZ131-136-137- 230. Small Craft Advisory until 2 PM EDT Monday for AMZ135. Small Craft Advisory until 11 AM EDT Monday for AMZ150-231. Small Craft Advisory until 8 PM EDT Monday for AMZ152-154. Small Craft Advisory until midnight EDT Monday night for AMZ156-158.
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&& $$ SYNOPSIS...MHX NEAR TERM...CQD SHORT TERM...CQD LONG TERM...RM AVIATION...CQD/RM MARINE...CQD/RM FIRE WEATHER...MHX