673
FXUS61 KAKQ 270651
AFDAKQ

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Wakefield VA
251 AM EDT Mon May 27 2024

.SYNOPSIS...
A cold front approaches the area into Monday. Additional rounds
of showers and storms are possible this afternoon and especially
Monday, with potential severe weather as well for Monday. An
upper trough brings cooler and comfortable weather to end the
week.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 7 AM THIS MORNING/...
As of 250 AM EDT Monday...

Key Messages:

- A weakening complex of thunderstorms will approach early this
  morning, but likely remains just to our west through sunrise.

Late tonight, a weakening MCS should move toward the area from
the W, but will likely just be west of our CWA border by
sunrise. Overnight lows in the in the mid-upper 60s.

&&

.SHORT TERM /7 AM THIS MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
As of 240 PM EDT Sunday...

Key Messages:

- There is a threat of severe weather for Memorial Day (Monday).
Damaging winds, large hail, and a few tornadoes are possible.

- Quieter Tuesday, with scattered showers and isolated storms across
the north Wednesday.

****Severe weather expected Monday with all modes of severe
possible. Those with outdoor Memorial Day plans should closely
monitor the weather for warnings as multiple rounds of strong to
severe storms could occur.****

The setup for Monday is complicated and heavily dependent on the
behavior of early-day convection. The broad weather pattern will be
characterized by an approaching mid-level shortwave and increasing
flow aloft. Several subtle impulses will slide eastward through the
area during the day, with one expected to cross the area in the mid
to late morning. This is before the brunt of daytime heating occurs
in the afternoon. Several experimental CAMs show a line of
convection crossing the area in the late morning, around 15z or so.
This could pose a threat of isolated wind damage, heavy rain, and
lightning. The impact of this activity on afternoon redevelopment is
the main question. While there could be a good degree of
stabilization from this early convection, most guidance insists of
robust airmass recovery with MLCAPE building to 1500+ J/kg in in the
afternoon. A few models even show values of 2000-3000 J/kg, which
would support extremely strong updrafts. Effective shear values will
be very supportive for severe weather with 35-50 kts across most of
the area. Therefore, afternoon redevelopment seems like a good bet
and all modes of severe will be possible. The large hail threat is
supported by mid-level lapse rates of 7-8 C/km, highest across the S
and SE. With southerly surface winds and SW winds aloft, there is
also some directional shear supportive of a non-zero tornado threat.
Forecast soundings show 150-200 m2/s2 of 0-1km SRH and favorably
curved hodographs, again highest across the S/SE. Changes to the day
2 SPC include an expansion of the slight risk to the entire area and
the introduction of a 5% tornado threat for most of our CWA. PoP-
wise, did trend PoPs down a bit mainly due to questions regarding
coverage. However, the severe potential remains unchanged. Highs
will be very warm to hot and in the upper 80s-low 90s (low 80s
immediate coast). Outside of storms, skies stay mostly or partly
sunny. Storms may linger across the SE into the overnight Monday.

Much quieter Tuesday with a lingering shower or storm across the far
SE. Highs in the low-mid 80s under a mostly sunny sky. Upper
troughing situates over the eastern CONUS for the middle of the
week. On Wednesday, a potent shortwave will dive SE and move through
nrn portions of the area. This is expected to bring an increase in
cloud cover and isolated to scattered showers, mainly N and E of the
I-64 corridor and especially on the MD Eastern Shore. Cooler temps
aloft will allow for the development of some modest CAPE in the
afternoon, so cannot rule out a few rumbles of thunder as well.
Highs will be in the upper 70s/around 80F N/NW to the low-mid 80s
S/SE. Cooler Wed night w/ lows in the 50s for most of the area and
lower 60s for the far SE.

&&

.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...
As of 240 PM EDT Sunday...

Key Message:

- Cooler and more comfortable to end the next week.

Another shortwave within the larger longwave trough pivots toward
the area later Thursday into Friday. However, drier air will work
against any precip chances. Still could see increases in cloud cover
in the aftn during peak heating, however. With the drier air and
lower heights aloft, temps will trend back into the 70s with dew
points in the 40s and 50s. Thus, it will feel much more comfortable.
High pressure builds down from the Great Lakes to end the week and
start the weekend favoring a continuation of the dry and comfortable
wx. High temps should begin to inch up some as ridging begins to
build across the eastern CONUS. Overnight lows through the extended
will be in the 50s to around 60F at the immediate coast. A few upper
40s are possible Thu and Fri night across the far NW.

&&

.AVIATION /07Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
As of 735 PM EDT Sunday...

VFR at all terminals at this hour as scattered storms have
dissipated. CIGs should mainly be VFR through the period except
at SBY where a period of IFR/LIFR is possible from 02-14z.
Elsewhere, some short-lived MVFR CIGs are possible Monday AM.
Am watching a line of tstms over wrn VA that is steadily moving
E/NE. This line will continue to approach from the W late this
evening into tonight. Most guidance agrees that this should be
weakening, but cannot rule out gusty winds, heavy rain, and
lightning (best chance at RIC in the 02-05z timeframe).
Additional showers and storms may enter the area Monday morning,
but confidence in this is low to moderate. Mainly light winds
tonight, with gusty south winds (to 20 kt) expected on Monday. A
higher coverage of showers and storms (some of which could be
severe) is expected Mon aftn through Mon evening at all
terminals. Outside of storms, expect mainly VFR conditions
Mon/Mon evening.

Outlook: VFR/dry conditions expected Tue and Wed.

&&

.MARINE...
As of 250 AM EDT Monday...

Key messages:

- Chances for some lingering showers early this morning, with
  more widespread showers reaching the waters by late morning
  into the early afternoon.

- Marginal Small Craft Advisory conditions possible by late this
  afternoon into tonight across the Chesapeake Bay and coastal
  waters due to increasing winds and building seas.

Latest analysis reveals a warm front now well north of the local
waters. Winds are S/SE 10-15 kt, seas 2-3 ft and waves 1-2 ft
(less than 1 ft in the upper rivers). A cold front approaches
the area late today, associated with a deepening low pressure
center over the Great Lakes. Winds increase this afternoon as
pressure gradient tightens ahead of the system. Winds gust to
~20 kt (25 kt over the open ocean this afternoon), while E-SE
wind wave potentially pushes some 5 footers across northern and
central coastal zones this evening. A convective system will
approach the area by mid to late morning, and may prompt some
Marine Warnings. Some additional storms will be possible with
the frontal passage itself as it pushes into the area this
evening.

The front still looks to slow down or stall over the waters
Monday night before getting pushed through the region Tuesday
afternoon/evening. Winds veer around to the NW behind the front
on Tuesday night through midweek. A second, reinforcing shot of
cooler and drier air could bring another period of stronger
northerly winds late Wednesday night into Thursday morning.

Moderate Rip Risk for northern beaches today with building seas
and more of a shore normal component to wave energy. Will keep
low risk for tomorrow for now, but will need to watch progress
of the front. If it is indeed a bit slower, winds could briefly
turn southerly tomorrow afternoon across the eastern shore
beaches. If this occurs, a Moderate Rip Risk may be needed over
northern portions.

&&

.AKQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MD...Coastal Flood Advisory until 7 AM EDT this morning for MDZ021.
NC...None.
VA...None.
MARINE...None.

&&

$$

SYNOPSIS...SW/TMG
NEAR TERM...ERI/SW
SHORT TERM...SW
LONG TERM...SW
AVIATION...ERI/SW
MARINE...AJB/MAM