Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Charleston, WV

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440 FXUS61 KRLX 270953 AFDRLX AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Charleston WV 553 AM EDT Mon May 27 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Showers and storms through Memorial Day in response to a cold front. Damaging wind gusts, hail, and locally heavy downpours will be possible. Remaining unsettled Tuesday and Wednesday. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
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As of 550 AM Monday... Sent a quick update to cancel Tornado watch for portions of northeast KY and southwest VA. Radar imagery shows convection associated with previous watch has diminished in intensity and coverage. Only scattered showers and general thunderstorms are noted, exiting the eastern mountains during the predawn hours. Although, continued with chance PoPs, expect a lull in precipitation during the morning and early afternoon hours, before the next batch of convection associated with a passing cold front materializes. Rest of forecast remains on track. As of 252 AM Monday... Key Points: * A Tornado Watch remains in effect for Carter and Lawrence counties in Kentucky, and Dickenson county in southwest Virginia through 6 AM. * A Marginal Risk for severe thunderstorms remains in place through tonight. Convection will continue to diminish in coverage and intensity across the area this morning. Hi-res CAMs suggest a lull in precipitation activity Monday morning through Monday afternoon. However, a cold front will arrive to the Middle OHio valley this afternoon triggering once again strong to severe thunderstorms. The afternoon environment is characterized by high CAPE about 2,800 J/Kg, bulk shear about 30 knots, PWATs reaching 1.2 inches and low SRHs about 100 m2/s2. An upper level shortwave will pass over the area this afternoon, providing upper level forcing to the ongoing convection. Local soundings show a somewhat fatter CAPE feature under very dry air aloft during the peak heating hours. This environment can sustain strong to severe updrafts/downdrafts capable to produce damaging winds and large hail. SPC keeps most of the area under Marginal Risk for severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and hail being the main threats. A slight risk exists over the northeast mountains. WPC maintains a slight risk for excessive rainfall roughly across the eastern half of the area today. Therefore, isolated severe storms and localized flash flooding will be possible on Monday. Near normal temperatures are expected this afternoon, generally in the lower 80s lowlands, ranging into the mid 60s higher elevations of our northeast mountains. Lows tonight will generally be in the 50s.
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&& .SHORT TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/... As of 330 AM Monday... Key Points: * Showers and storms expected at times through Wednesday. * Temperatures turn cooler for the middle of the week. Several shortwaves pivoting through an upper level trough are expected to facilitate periods of showers and thunderstorms through the middle of the week. Precipitation chances seep into the CWA from the north as the first shortwave brushes by on Tuesday. A lull in precipitation could then be possible late Tuesday before the next wave crosses the area Wednesday into Wednesday night. While precipitation chances are expected to overspread the area during the day, the greatest probability for showers and storms should reside across the northern half of the area. Severe storms are not currently anticipated for Tuesday or Wednesday. High temperatures are expected to range from mid to upper 70s in the lowlands and 60s to low 70s along the mountains on Tuesday. Wednesday should be slightly cooler, with highs in the upper 60s to low 70s in the lowlands and mid 50s to upper 60s in the mountains. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 340 AM Monday... Key Points: * High pressure begins to build into the area, resulting in quieter weather late this week. * Gradual warming trend should take hold late week into the weekend. Surface high pressure starts building into the region from the northwest on Thursday and then strengthens its grip on Friday, resulting in a quieter conclusion to the work week. High pressure and the presence of an upper ridge should allow benign weather to continue on Saturday. Confidence on the forecast for the second half of the weekend remains low due to model discrepancies. One solution shows a shortwave bringing precipitation chances back into the area, while another maintains drier conditions beneath upper ridging until Monday. For the present, have used a model blend that reintroduces slight chance to chance PoPs Saturday night into Sunday. Temperatures are expected to start out slightly cooler than normal on Thursday, then a warming trend takes hold and buoys temperatures above normal for the weekend. && .AVIATION /10Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
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As of 132 AM Monday... A line of convection will affect HTS and PKB by 06-08Z, spreading east affecting CRW by 08-10Z with heavy rain, and strong gusty winds. Periods of MVFR/IFR conditions are expected along this activity through the overnight hours. Precipitation behind the convective line becomes more stratiformed but steady. MVFR/IFR ceilings could remains behind this line through 12Z Monday morning. Models suggest a lull in precipitation Monday morning into the early afternoon hours. But, unstable conditions, and the passage of an upper level wave will bring back showers and storms during the peak heating hours. Guidance suggest LLWS developing from 08Z through 12Z overnight tonight. Coded LLWS at most sites accordingly. FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 12Z TUESDAY... FORECAST CONFIDENCE: High. ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing of thunderstorms at determined sites may vary by an hour at HTS, PKB and CRW. Amendments will likely be needed later for weather restrictions, overnight into early Monday morning, and then again Monday afternoon. EXPERIMENTAL TABLE OF FLIGHT CATEGORY OBJECTIVELY SHOWS CONSISTENCY OF WFO FORECAST TO AVAILABLE MODEL INFORMATION: H = HIGH: TAF CONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL. M = MEDIUM: TAF HAS VARYING LEVEL OF CONSISTENCY WITH MODELS. L = LOW: TAF INCONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL. DATE MON 05/27/24 UTC 1HRLY 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 EDT 1HRLY 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 CRW CONSISTENCY H L H H H H H H H H H H HTS CONSISTENCY M H H H H H H H H H H H BKW CONSISTENCY M M M M H H H H H H H H EKN CONSISTENCY H L H M H H H H H H H H PKB CONSISTENCY M H H H H H M M H H H H CKB CONSISTENCY H M H H H H H H H H H H AFTER 12Z TUESDAY... No widespread IFR conditions are expected at this time.
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&& .RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WV...None. OH...None. KY...None. VA...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...ARJ/JLB NEAR TERM...ARJ SHORT TERM...JLB LONG TERM...JLB AVIATION...ARJ