Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Newport/Morehead, NC

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451 FXUS62 KMHX 220641 AFDMHX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC 241 AM EDT Wed May 22 2024 .SYNOPSIS... High pressure builds in from the north keeping much of the area dry through Thursday before the next potential frontal system moves through late week through the weekend and brings a return to unsettled weather. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TODAY/...
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As of 200 AM Wednesday...Guidance continues to back off on fog/stratus development offshore of NOBX. Along and west of hwy 17 continues to be the main fog concern for tonight with high pressure overhead and calm winds resulting in dew point depressions near 0 and ample low level moisture. Current indication is Pitt and Martin counties will be spared from the most dense fog, but areas south are likely to experience 1/4 mile or less visibilities early this morning. Introduced Widespread fog with 1/4SM vis mentions with this update along hwy 17 from the Onslow/Duplin/Pender county borders up to Washington, NC. Patchy dense fog is still possible elsewhere in the CWA this morning. Lows this morning will be in the upper 50s, near 60 through the CWA. Surface high pressure shifts further offshore today, with lee- troughing developing east of the Appalachians. This will lead to a modest increase in southerly flow across the coastal Carolinas. The increased southerly flow plus warming thicknesses beneath ridging aloft will support high topping out 5-10 degrees higher than today, in the mid to upper 80s inland. While instability will steadily build, it appears there will be enough of a cap beneath the ridge to keep the risk of afternoon convection very low. The one exception is along the central OBX where a coastal trough approaching from the east may support a few showers near, or just offshore by the afternoon.
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&& .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT/...
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As of 200 AM Wednesday... Sfc high is offshore to our east tonight, with ridging continuing to build over us at higher levels from the SW. Quiet night in store, with lows in the low to mid 60s inland, mid to upper 60s for beaches. Some patchy fog is possible Wednesday night into early Thursday morning along hwy 17, but confidence and impacts remain low enough to prevent an inclusion in this forecast update.
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&& .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 3 AM Tuesday...High pressure continues to build in from the north through Thursday. A series of shortwaves will come through the region Friday through the weekend, with a wetter and more unsettled end the long term. Wednesday night through Thursday...High pressure builds across the Mid- Atlantic and Southeast. Expect dry conditions through Thursday, along with steadily warming conditions. By Thu, temps rise to near 90 and back above climo. In fact, some areas may flirt with low 90 degree highs by Thu. Lows will be in the 60s. Friday through Monday...High pressure shifts offshore to our west and more active pattern kicks in with multiple shortwaves impacting the region. Thundershowers possible with each of these waves with a warm/humid airmass in place, thanks to the high offshore. Rain chances ahead of the shortwave and frontal system early Friday have trended a bit drier, so kept PoPs generally at Schc, with highest values the further north you go. After the front passes through, a series of shortwaves impact ENC, one on Friday night through Saturday, and another Monday into Monday night. Both of these shortwaves carry Chc PoPs with them. Followed closer to climo, and kept highest thunder chances in the afternoon and evening periods. At this point severe weather threat appears to be low through the weekend. && .AVIATION /06Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
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SHORT TERM /through 06z Wednesday/... As of 230 AM Wednesday... Sfc high pressure will shift offshore by Wednesday morning. The developing return flow around the high will lead to an increasing layer of shallow moisture through tonight. As temp/dewpoint have decreased with winds tonight, there is a high likelihood of dense fog developing and overspreading the area from SW to NE, particularly along hwy 17. LIFR/VLIFR Visibilities less than 1/4 SM and ceilings BKN/OVC002 are possible through and shortly after sunset, with the worst conditions peaking between 5am and 7am. Return to VFR flight cats by midmorning WED with another day of fair- weather diurnal CU out ahead of the seabreeze which will turn light and var winds more Serly in the afternoon and evening. Another round of patchy fog is possible Wednesday night, but much less impactful than the fog expected this morning. LONG TERM /Wednesday night through Sunday/... As of 3 AM Tuesday...Pred VFR conditions are expected early through mid week. Multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms Friday onwards could result in lower vis and ceilings.
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&& .MARINE...
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SHORT TERM /through Wednesday/... As of 240 AM Tuesday...Recent iterations of the quick refresh HiRes guidance have continued backing off on fog/stratus development offshore of NOBX this morning. Fog for inland sounds and rivers are still possible through the early morning. Light winds will allow seas to continue to lay down, with good boating conditions for most waters during the daylight hours Wednesday. Another chance of fog Wednesday night, but impacts are expected to be much lower than this morning`s potential. LONG TERM /Wednesday night through Sunday/... As of 3 AM Tuesday...High pressure will remain in control through Thursday morning, resulting in good boating conditions. As the high moves offshore through the day Thursday, SW winds pick up, gusting near 20 kts Thursday afternoon/evening. Winds come back down a tad Thursday night, but multiple chances of showers and thunderstorms exist Friday through the weekend.
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&& .MHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NC...None. MARINE...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...MHX NEAR TERM...RJ SHORT TERM...RJ LONG TERM...RJ AVIATION...RJ MARINE...RJ