Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Blacksburg, VA

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FXUS61 KRNK 161742
AFDRNK

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
142 PM EDT Mon Sep 16 2024

.SYNOPSIS...
Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight moves onshore this afternoon
and drifts through the Carolinas through Wednesday bringing a
prolonged period of rain to the area. A low probability of rain
remains in the forecast through the end of the week as high
pressure wedges down the Appalachians.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
As of 120 PM EDT Monday...

Key message:

    - Rain spreading in this afternoon and evening becoming
      moderate to heavy at times along/east of the Blue Ridge
      into Tuesday
    - Northeast-east winds increasing with gusts to 20-35 mph


Low still centered off the SC coast this afternoon expected to
move inland by late afternoon between CHS-ILM. Rain already
reaching the NC mountains but drier air north has kept it
limited. Leaning toward 12z 3km NAM as it had the setup with
the rain and storm better. Better lift arrives by mid- late
afternoon and moreso tonight into Tuesday as the low moves
inland to upstate SC by Tuesday morning, weakening considerably
by Tuesday afternoon. Stronger winds stay below advisory levels
but upped gusts a little especially over our NC and southern VA
counties. Some gusts over 30 mph may lead to weaker trees or
limbs to fall. Rainfall of 1-3+" over a 24-36 hr period should
limit flooding concerns given how dry we have been, so no flood
watches at this time. Rises mainly expect along the upper New
River and lower Roanoke/Dan basin from this event but staying
well below flood stage given low flows.

PWATS off our 12z RNK sounding hanging around 2/3" but should
jump to over an inch by this evening and over 1.5"-2.0" tonight.

Several bands of heavier rain and enhancement along the Blue
Ridge takes shape overnight into Tuesday but models keep the
rain/showers moving along which unless there is training should
limit amounts for most. As far as instability that also looks
fairly limited but could see a few lightning strikes over
southern VA into the NC piedmont Tuesday.

Temperatures run above normal tonight with mid to upper 50s in
the mountains to mid 60s piedmont. Clouds/showers will keep
temperatures below normal Tuesday with 60s in the mountains and
lower 70s east.


&&

.SHORT TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/...
As of 1245 PM EDT Monday...

Key Messages:

1. Rain chances continue through the midweek.
2. Highest chances for rain Tuesday night through Wednesday.
3. Near to below normal temperatures.

The remnants of Potential Tropical Cyclone 8 will slowly move into
the Carolinas through Tuesday, bringing rounds of moderate to heavy
rainfall to the area. Models have generally shifted the track of the
system farther southwestward, but some uncertainty exists after
Wednesday where the remnants of this system may go, with no strong
feature aloft to steer it in any specific direction. That being
said, forecast confidence after Wednesday decreases, but overall,
chances of rain continue through the midweek, possibly into the end
of the week, as the remnants of PTC 8 meander near the Carolinas and
Tennessee Valley. The majority of the rain will fall Tuesday, but
continue into Wednesday. Repeated rounds of rainfall will increase
the risk of flooding, but dry antecedent conditions will help
to limit flooding potential. The track of this system will
influence rainfall amounts through the period, but highest
amounts still look to be along the Blue Ridge, particularly over
the southern parts of the mountains, in northwest NC and
southwest VA. Some instability and bulk shear around 30 knots
associated with the system as it pivots into and through the
Carolinas could lead to a few thunderstorms Wednesday and
Thursday afternoon, though confidence is low.

With cloud cover and chances for rain through the period, expecting
temperatures to be near to below normal.

&&

.LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
As of 100 PM EDT Monday...

Key Messages:

1. Chances for rain continue into the weekend, but gradually
decrease. 2. Near to below normal temperatures through the
period.

With the remnants of Potential Tropical Cyclone 8 still in the
vicinity, rainfall chances continue into the end of the work week,
mainly for central and eastern VA and NC. However, an upper ridge
building over the central US will start to push the upper trough/low
associated with the remnants of the system out towards the Atlantic.
Surface high pressure moves into the northeast US again by the
second half of the week, and start to wedge along the eastern side
of the Appalachians. With the wedge in place, any rain would
have to overcome the dry air, and so will help to lower rain
chances through the weekend. That all being said, look for
increasing periods of sunshine after Friday through the weekend.
Temperatures will be near to below normal for this time of year
through the forecast period.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
As of 120 PM EDT Monday...

Aviation conditions not too bad this afternoon but looking at
MVFR to IFR by this evening at all taf sites with rain moderate
to heavy at times impacting DAN/ROA/BCB and perhaps LYH. Vsbys
should drop to 2-5 miles in the rain.

Cigs by Tuesday morning stay at or below 1kft for most of the
area with showers off and on.

Generally east to northeast winds through the period. Gusts
between 15 to 30 knots are possible for KDAN and KLYH, and 20
to 35 kts the along the Blue Ridge.

Forecast confidence is above average for ceiling, visibility,
and wind with rain tonight.

EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...

Periods of sub VFR conditions are possible through Thursday, as a
low pressure system brings rain and clouds to the area through the
midweek. Widespread rain continues into Tuesday. We may finally
see less coverage of showers by Friday into Saturday.

&&

.EQUIPMENT...
As of 135 PM EDT Monday...

The Lynchburg ASOS (LYH) is still experiencing data transmission
issues, mainly at night due to FAA outage. Please use caution
when using data from this site, as some may be missing.
No estimated date for return to full service at this time.

&&

.RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
VA...None.
NC...None.
WV...None.

&&

$$

SYNOPSIS...AMS/WP
NEAR TERM...WP
SHORT TERM...AS
LONG TERM...AS
AVIATION...AMS/WP
EQUIPMENT...AS/WP