Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Wakefield, VA

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173 FXUS61 KAKQ 230027 AFDAKQ AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Wakefield VA 827 PM EDT Wed May 22 2024 .SYNOPSIS... High pressure will remain situated off the Southeast coast through the end of the week. A cold front approaches from the northwest Thursday with daily chances for showers and thunderstorms to end the week and into the weekend. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 8 AM THURSDAY MORNING/...
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As of 815 PM EDT Wednesday... Key message: - A slight chance for a shower across the far N/NW. High pressure is situated well off the southeast coast this evening, with low pressure across the Great Lakes, and a weak lee trough still noticeable in the pressure field just to the west of our FA. Aloft, the flow is from the W, around a flat ridge extending from the Gulf of Mexico ENE to a position off the Carolina coast. It remains quite warm, with temperatures still mostly in the upper 70s/lower 80s W of the Bay, with upper 60s to mid 70s on the eastern shore. With the loss of daytime heating, and the main upper trough still off to the W, the convection that developed across the Appalachians has weakened/diminished by the time it reached into far western sections of the CWA. With little to no instability to the E, it appears that showers and any embedded storms will struggle to hold together overnight locally. Some of the CAMs suggest an isolated shower will still be possible over the far N/NW overnight so will keep a slight chc mention (15-20%) PoP there, but 10% or less elsewhere. Variably cloudy overnight and rather warm with lows in the mid to upper 60s for most areas.
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&& .SHORT TERM /8 AM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY/...
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As of 250 PM EDT Wednesday... Key Messages: - Summerlike and more humid Thursday with high temperatures in the mid 80s to around 90F. - Chances for thunderstorms later Thursday into Thursday evening. A few of these storms may be strong to severe. An upper trough and cold front approach from the NW on Thursday. 850mb temperatures will still be ~16C supporting highs once again in the mid 80s to near 90F, (lower to mid 80s over the far NW and the eastern shore). The upper trough and cold front will provide a trigger for showers/tstms in a moderately unstable airmass with strong surface heating and dewpoints in the mid to upper 60s. This combined with 500mb flow of 30-40kt could result in a few stronger to severe tstms. SPC has maintained a marginal risk for our area. However, some of the CAMs are looking more robust with respect to thunderstorm coverage/intensity late Thursday, especially along and south of the VA Hwy 460 corridor. Primary threats will be localized damaging wind gusts and hail. Showers/tstms diminish in coverage Thursday night with low temperatures ranging through the 60s. The front stalls in vicinity of the area Friday. However, 12z/22 model guidance has continued to trend downward with shower/tstm chances. Forecast PoPs range from 20-30% E to 30-40% W Friday afternoon. Continued warm and moderately humid Friday with highs in the lower to mid 80s.
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&& .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
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As of 250 PM EDT Wednesday... Key Message: - Remaining warm, and somewhat unsettled through the weekend with chances for mainly afternoon/evening showers and thunderstorms. The lingering frontal boundary stalls over the region over the weekend and into Memorial Day and through Tuesday as well. In addition, westerly mid and upper level flow will allow for a series of shortwaves to move across the region. Confidence on timing is very low, so the forecast will continue with daily chances of mainly afternoon/evening showers/tstms. High temperatures will mainly be in the 80s with low temperatures in the 60s through the weekend and into early next week.
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&& .AVIATION /00Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
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As of 800 PM EDT Wednesday... High pressure remains offshore this evening, with low pressure across the Great Lakes. Scattered showers and isolated tstms that developed over the Appalachians have generally weakened/diminished as they approached western and northern portions of the area. VFR conditions prevail, with little to no chance for any rain into the CWA, though the sky has become partly-mostly cloudy with debris clouds (CIGs 15-25k ft). Partly cloudy overnight, with SSW winds averaging 5-10 kt, enough mixing to keep fog from developing. A cold front approaches the area Thursday bringing with it a chance for showers/tstms along with possible flight restrictions, primarily during the mid/late aftn and evening timeframe. A few storms will be capable of bringing strong/gusty winds. Still too much uncertainty w/ coverage and have handled the late aftn/early evening period with VCTS wording in the TAFs. The front looks to stall in the vicinity of the region Friday- Monday, bringing daily chances for mainly afternoon/evening showers/tstms.
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&& .MARINE... As of 310 PM EDT Wednesday... Key Messages: - Benign conditions expected on the waters through the Holiday weekend. - Shower and storm chances return Thursday afternoon and are possible again over the holiday weekend. High pressure is slowly shifting farther out to sea this afternoon, as a storm system, located over the Great Lakes, and a cold front, that stretches across the Ohio Valley, starts to approach from the NW. Expect SSE winds 10-15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt this evening to become SSW 5-15kt overnight tonight into Thu morning. Shower and storm chances will increase on Thursday afternoon and evening hours, with the front`s approach. But the front will be weakening as it arrives and stall across the region. It will then waffle back and forth across the area through the Holiday weekend. While this will keep the chances for showers and thunderstorms in the forecast through the weekend into early next week, the winds and seas will remain below sca levels through the weekend. Overall expect winds below 10 kts and seas 2 - 3 ft over the ocean and 1 - 2 ft in the Bay and area rivers. && .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... As of 315 PM EDT Wednesday... Another round of nuisance to minor tidal flooding is expected to occur later tonight into Thu morning, particularly for the middle Chesapeake Bay and tidal portions of the Rappahannock River and southern shore of the tidal Potomac, due to the higher astronomical high tides remaining elevated. && .AKQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...None. NC...None. VA...None. MARINE...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...JDM NEAR TERM...JDM/LKB SHORT TERM...AJZ/JDM LONG TERM...AJZ/JDM AVIATION...JDM/LKB MARINE...ESS/TMG TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...AKQ