Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Wakefield, VA

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185 FXUS61 KAKQ 250818 AFDAKQ AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Wakefield VA 418 AM EDT Sat May 25 2024 .SYNOPSIS... A surface trough will affect western portions of the region this afternoon into this evening. A warm front followed by a cold front will affect the area Sunday afternoon through Monday night. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
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As of 400 AM EDT Saturday... Early this morning, dry weather was across the region, but the sky ranged from mostly clear to cloudy due to areas of fog (some dense) and BKN/OVC stratus. Temps were ranging through the 60s into the lower 70s. Areas of fog (some dense) and BKN/OVC stratus will prevail in many locations until 12/13Z this morning. Will monitor observations in the next hour or two to see if dense fog becomes more widespread, and may need a Dense Fog Advisory. Otherwise, the sky should become at least partly sunny from later this morning into early this evening. Warm and humid with highs ranging through the 80s (mid to upper 80s inland/Piedmont). A sfc trough will affect wrn portions of the region this aftn into this evening, possibly triggering isolated to sctd showers or tstms. No severe wx is expected. Any remnant showers or tstms will end by late this evening, with a mostly clear to partly cloudy sky tonight. Lows in the lower to mid 60s with at least some additional potential for fog.
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&& .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/...
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As of 400 AM EDT Saturday... - More widespread thunderstorms expected Memorial Day with a cold front. A few storms could be strong to severe. A shortwave slides from the OH River Valley into the Great Lakes Sunday. However, coverage of storms again looks on the low side given the lack of any sfc triggers. Will have 20% PoPs for the wrn 2/3rds of the area and 15% or less further E. Highs will be in the mid-upper 80s, with perhaps a few readings approaching 90F across interior VA and NC. Anomalous upper troughing will push a cold front toward the region on Monday (Memorial Day). This favors higher coverage of showers and storms, with some potential for strong-severe storms if the FROPA timing is aligned with the daytime heating window. GFS/ECMWF both show surface-based CAPE increasing to 1500-2500 J/kg, combined with 30-40 kt of effective shear. Robust southerly flow and warm advection should push most areas into the mid-upper 80s (low 80s eastern shore) for highs. Highest coverage of convection shifts E/SE into the evening hours Sunday, with continuing chances for strong/severe storms. Rain should be off the coast by the morning Tuesday.
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&& .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
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As of 400 AM EDT Saturday... Key Message: - Trending more sensible and cooler for the middle and end of next week. A relatively deep trough will remain positioned over the ern CONUS through the end of the week. Highs Tue still in the 80s with any appreciable "cold" advection holding off until Wednesday. Highs Wed in the upper 70s-low 80s. With disturbances pivoting through the trough, can`t rule out isolated showers or storms at times (especially Tue and Wed). Will have slight chc PoPs. It will trend cooler by Thursday and Friday with highs back into the 70s areawide. Overnight Tue night in the low-mid 60s and in the 50s Wed/Thu night.
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&& .AVIATION /08Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... As of 240 AM EDT Saturday... Main concern at all TAF sites through 12-13z this morning will be for IFR/LIFR CIGs and/or VSBYS from fog. Expect conditions to improve to VFR at all sites by 14/15z. Mainly VFR conditions will prevail from midday today into Sun morning. However, isolated shower/storm could affect RIC or possibly SBY later today into this evening, which may produce brief sub-VFR conditions. Outlook: Widely sctd to sctd showers/storms will then be possible later Sun into Mon evening. Outside of storms, expecting mainly VFR conditions. && .MARINE... As of 325 AM EDT Saturday... Key Messages: - Benign conditions expected on the waters through the weekend. - Chances for showers and storms (especially each afternoon and evening) through Memorial Day. Benign marine conditions across the local waters early this morning, with high pressure in place over the region. Winds are NNW 5-10 kt winds this morning with waves 1 ft or less and seas 1-2 ft. Winds remain light this morning, with afternoon seabreeze circulations likely to veer winds around to become onshore, with south to southeast winds returning in the later afternoon and evening/late night hours. This same summer-like pattern will repeat through the holiday weekend. There will also be the chance for scattered afternoon and evening showers and storms each day. A cold front approaches the area on Monday, associated with a deepening low pressure center over the Great Lakes. Have continued to keep the forecast below SCA criteria. Winds veer around to the NW behind the front on Tuesday into midweek. Some more widespread showers and storms will be possible on Memorial Day (Monday) ahead of the approaching cold front. E-SE swell behind that system that could briefly bring some 5 foot seas by Monday night. However, seas quickly subside as winds turn back offshore Tue-Wed. Low Rip Risk on area beaches through the weekend, with moderate rip risk for northern beaches on Monday with building seas and more of a shore normal component to wave energy. && .AKQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...None. NC...None. VA...None. MARINE...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...TMG NEAR TERM...TMG SHORT TERM...SW/TMG LONG TERM...SW/TMG AVIATION...TMG MARINE...ERI/MAM