Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Knoxville/Tri Cities, TN

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078
FXUS64 KMRX 220517
AFDMRX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Morristown TN
117 AM EDT Sun Sep 22 2024

...New AVIATION...

.UPDATE...
Issued at 955 PM EDT Sat Sep 21 2024

New update for the rest of the night as showers have almost ended
with the last activity over the southern Tennessee Valley. Blow
off clouds from upstream convection in middle Tennessee and south
central Kentucky was keeping variable high clouds over the east
Tennessee Valley but this has been decreasing over the last hour.
Have added fog over much of the region for late tonight and early
Sunday as the air mass is not quite as dry as this morning and
yesterday with fog likely forming where winds are calm and skies
partly cloudy. A few areas may have dense fog. Lows still expected
to be in the mild 60s overnight tonight. Updated forecast already
sent.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(This evening through Sunday)
Issued at 240 PM EDT Sat Sep 21 2024

Key Messages:

1. Isolated showers and possibly a thunderstorm through early
evening. Greatest coverage over Plateau and southwest
Virginia/northeast Tennessee.

2. Unseasonably hot conditions today and Sunday. Temperatures
near 10 degrees above normal.

Discussion:

A weak wave is rotating around the upper ridge across the Ohio
valley and central Appalachians. Meso-analysis shows best
instability across the northern Plateau into southwest
VA/northeast Tennessee with MLCAPES of 500-1000. These areas have
the best chance of showers and possibly a thunderstorm through
early this evening.

Locations that see any rainfall will have a decent chance of fog
development overnight. Otherwise, partly cloudy sky with a stray
shower possible.

For Sunday, upper ridge remains over the region allowing for
another unseasonably hot day with temperatures from 5 to 10
degrees above normal. HREF and deterministic models agree with
another short-wave moving toward the area during the afternoon.
MLCAPES will be best across the Plateau and western sections of
the Tennessee valley. Widely scattered to scattered late day
showers and possibly a thunderstorm are expected.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Sunday night through next Saturday)
Issued at 240 PM EDT Sat Sep 21 2024

Key Messages:

1. Increasing chance of convection during the extended but
confidence is low on probabilities and timing due to evolution of
the tropical system in the gulf.

2. Can not stress enough to not focus on deterministic models on
timing, strength, and location of tropical systems late this week.
Main message is that the CPC is depicting a greater than 60
percent probability of tropical development in the Gulf.

Discussion:

For Monday through Wednesday, ensemble cluster analysis shows a
slow change in the upper level pattern with a northern and
southern stream short-waves weakening the upper ridge over the
area. This will allow for increasing coverage of convection over
the region especially along and north of interstate 40. Some much
needed rainfall is possible.

For Thursday through Saturday, forecast confidence decreases as
CPC probabilities shows tropical development in the gulf combined
with continued upper trough over the mid-section of the nation.
The evolution of these systems will play a large role in the
timing, direction, and strength of the tropical system and
associated rainfall.

&&

.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 1245 AM EDT Sun Sep 22 2024

Possible fog development is a concern mainly TRI toward sunrise
although right now probability looks marginal for inclusion, so
will just include an MVFR vsby group for fog toward sunrise.
There may be a shower or even a thunderstorm around later today
mainly CHA/TYS, but probability is low so will not include mention
in TAFS. Other than the aforementioned TRI fog, will have a VFR
forecast for the period all sites. Winds will generally be light.


&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Chattanooga Airport, TN             94  70  93  70 /  20  10  20  10
Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport, TN  92  68  90  68 /  20  10  30  20
Oak Ridge, TN                       91  67  89  67 /  20  20  40  20
Tri Cities Airport, TN              88  63  84  64 /  10  20  60  30

&&

.MRX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...NONE.
TN...NONE.
VA...NONE.
&&

$$

SHORT TERM...TD
LONG TERM....DH
AVIATION...