Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Albany, NY

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300 FXUS61 KALY 192027 AFDALY AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Albany NY 427 PM EDT Wed Jun 19 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Dangerous heat and humidity persist across eastern New York and western New England as an anomalously strong, upper-level high pressure system dominates much of the Northeast. Oppressive heat in addition to isolated to scattered chances for showers and thunderstorms, persist through Thursday. Temperatures will see a gradual waning trend beginning Friday as a cold front approaches the region. However, temperatures will still be on the warm side through the weekend with additional rounds of showers and thunderstorms possible. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM THURSDAY MORNING/...
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**Heat Advisories remain in effect for all of eastern New York and western New England through 8 PM Thursday** Day two of our mid-June heat wave continues this afternoon with heat indices having reached the upper 90s to low 100s across much of the area. The few exceptions lie in isolated pockets in the Eastern Catskills and Upper Hudson Valley where thunderstorms, some strong to severe, have cooled off the air temperature sufficiently enough to drop heat index values to the mid 80s to low 90s. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms will persist throughout the remainder of the afternoon into this evening before the loss of daytime heating abruptly weakens instability across the area. Though most storms have not been severe at this point, a few ground truth reports of downed trees in the Upper Hudson Valley have verified stronger wind gusts resulting from these storms. Outside of this hazard, lightning and locally heavy downpours have been the main resultants and hazards from most storms this afternoon. That said, storms that develop and/or persist this afternoon will be capable of producing locally heavy downpours with isolated strong to potentially damaging wind gusts. Small hail also cannot be ruled out in the event of a stronger storm, but due to warm temperatures aloft and at the surface, large hail is not likely. Caution is advised for those participating in outdoor activities especially in the Eastern Catskills and Lake George- Saratoga Region. With the near 600 dam closed high pressure remaining parked more or less overhead throughout the night, low temperatures are not expected to fall below the upper 60s to low 70s. It will be another muggy night with dew points remaining elevated.
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&& .SHORT TERM /6 AM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...
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**Heat Advisories continue through 8 PM Thursday for all of eastern New York and western New England** Despite the gradual southward sink of the upper high and general flattening trend of the ridging aloft throughout the day tomorrow in response to a cold front approaching from the northwest, another day of oppressive heat is anticipated. High temperatures will range from the mid/upper 80s at higher elevations to low/mid 90s in valley and lower-lying areas. Dew points progged to be in the upper 60s to low 70s once again will lead to heat index values of mid/upper 90s to low 100s in valley areas and up to 95 degrees in the Southwest Adirondacks, Eastern Catskills and Southern Greens. Therefore, we will continue the widespread Heat Advisory through tomorrow evening. Once again there is a chance for showers and thunderstorms tomorrow afternoon through tomorrow evening, however, coverage may be a bit more on the scattered side than the current isolated nature of storms. This will be courtesy of a surface trough developing between the currently dominant anticyclone sliding south and west and another high building to the north and west in southeast Canada. The enhanced convergence of this feature will provide additional forcing such that showers and thunderstorms are able to increase in coverage across the area. Additionally, with sufficient instability (SBCAPE on the order of 1500 to 2500 J/kg) and steep low-level lapse rates, some storms will be capable of becoming stronger to possibly severe with strong to potentially damaging wind gusts serving as the greatest threat. Storms will also be capable of producing locally heavy downpours and small hail. Isolated large hail (1" in diameter) cannot be ruled out, but with persistence of warm air both aloft and at the surface, sufficient melting is expected to restrict hail size. It is important to note that while the Storm Prediction Center has placed portions of Eastern New York and western New England in a Slight Risk for severe thunderstorms tomorrow, severe storm coverage is likely to be relatively isolated due to limited shear and warm temperatures aloft. Showers and thunderstorms will decrease in coverage and taper off upon the loss of daytime heating tomorrow evening into tomorrow night yielding a fairly dry overnight period. Much like tonight, conditions will be muggy with low temperatures ranging from the mid/upper 60s to low 70s. By Friday morning, ridging aloft will have become relatively flat, leading to flow becoming zonal. Geopotential height will remain high, however, so while high temperatures Friday should be cooler than Thursday, it will still be rather warm for mid- June standards for most places. The other contributing factor to this will be an approaching, weak cold front tracking from northwest to southeast across the area throughout the day. This will lead to rather variable highs across the region with mid/upper 70s to low 80s at higher elevations and mid to upper 80s and even pockets of low 90s (lower Mid-Hudson Valley) throughout most valley areas. At this time, heat indices look to be highest in the Hudson Valley where low to mid 90s are possible. However, with uncertainties still in existence pertaining to the timing of the front, we have chosen to hold off on any additional heat advisories for these areas. It is certainly possible that once confidence increases, additional products could be necessary, but will certainly be much less widespread than the past several days. With the passage of the front, additional rounds of showers and thunderstorms are expected across eastern New York and western New England throughout the day Friday. At this time, the greatest instability lies south and west of the Capital District where the greatest heating will likely be allowed to take place ahead of the front. Here, a Marginal Risk for severe thunderstorms has been issued by the SPC. Strong to isolated storms are again likely to be isolated in terms of coverage. Showers and possibly some embedded rumbles of thunder persist into Friday night as the front becomes stalled just south of the region along the NY/PA border. Low temperatures will fair a bit cooler than recent days with upper 50s expected in the Southwest Adirondacks and Southern Greens and low to upper 60s elsewhere.
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&& .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
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The long term period generally looks to start unsettled with the chance for showers and thunderstorms Saturday through Monday. The aforementioned stalled boundary looks to linger just south of the region Saturday, causing the chance for additional rounds of showers and thunderstorms throughout the day. High temperatures will be several degrees cooler Saturday, though still relatively warm, with mid/upper 70s to mid 80s anticipated across the region. Sunday, the stalled boundary lifts north and east across the area as a warm front as a surface low traverses southeast Ontario into southern Quebec and a positively- tilted upper- level trough begins to dig into the region. With a trailing cold front remaining well upstream, a warm sector will be created across the region, such that more showers and thunderstorms will be likely. This is the period to watch as some storms could become strong to severe with the anticipation of instability increases intersecting zones of higher shear. Will continue to monitor this period over the coming days for severe weather potential. Highs Sunday will increase to the upper 70s/low 80s at higher elevations to mid/upper 80s and possibly some low 90s in valley areas. Showers and thunderstorm chances continue into Monday as the upper-level trough swings through the region in tandem with the cold front. Directly in its wake, upper ridging builds in to force the return to dry conditions Tuesday through the remainder of the long term period. This will, however, mean the return to hot weather as temperatures rise back into widespread mid/upper 80s to low 90s by Wednesday.
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&& .AVIATION /19Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
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A hot and humid air mass in place over the region. With this air mass overhead, some scattered thunderstorms have been developing. One cluster of thunderstorms will be near KGFL over the next hour or two, so have included a TEMPO there for a brief period of gusty winds and lower visibility to IFR levels within heavy rainfall. There will be less of a threat for the other sites, but will still mention a VCSH for KALB. Otherwise, flying conditions will be VFR through the afternoon hours with sct cu around 4-7 kft and some passing cirrus clouds as well. Southerly winds will be 5 to 10 kts. For tonight, any convection will dissipate, allowing for fairly clear and muggy conditions overnight. With the rain at KGFL and humid air in place, will mention IFR radiational fog there for tonight, as this also occurred last night. Elsewhere, fog is less of a threat, although there could be a brief period at KPSF towards daybreak. Just some few-sct cirrus clouds will be around overnight with very light or calm winds and no additional precip. On Thursday morning, flying conditions will be VFR. Clear skies will give way to some diurnal cumulus around 3-6 kft and some cirrus as well. South to southwest winds will be 5 kts or so and will increase towards afternoon. Some developing showers or t-storms could impact the TAF sites on Thursday afternoon or evening. Outlook... Thursday Night: Low Operational Impact. Slight Chance of SHRA. Friday: High Operational Impact. Likely SHRA...TSRA. Friday Night: Moderate Operational Impact. Chance of SHRA...TSRA. Saturday: Moderate Operational Impact. Chance of SHRA...TSRA. Saturday Night: Moderate Operational Impact. Chance of SHRA...TSRA. Sunday: High Operational Impact. Likely SHRA...TSRA. Sunday Night: High Operational Impact. Likely SHRA...TSRA. Monday: Moderate Operational Impact. Chance of SHRA...TSRA.
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&& .CLIMATE... Record High Temperatures... Wednesday, June 19: Albany - 94 (1995) Glens Falls - 97 (1995) Poughkeepsie - 92 (1941, 1943, 1993, 2016) Thursday, June 20: Albany - 97 (1953) Glens Falls - 97 (1923) Poughkeepsie - 96 (2012) Friday, June 21: Albany - 97 (1938) Glens Falls - 96 (2012) Poughkeepsie - 97 (1949) Record High Minimum Temperatures... Wednesday, June 19: Albany - 71 (1976) Glens Falls - 67 (1905, 1949, 1976, 2017) Poughkeepsie - 73 (1993) Thursday, June 20: Albany - 73 (1893) Glens Falls - 68 (1964) Poughkeepsie - 71 (1931) Friday, June 21: Albany - 72 (1923) Glens Falls - 71 (1953) Poughkeepsie - 73 (1931) && .ALY WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CT...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT Thursday for CTZ001-013. NY...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT Thursday for NYZ032-033-038>043- 047>054-058>061-063>066-082>084. MA...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT Thursday for MAZ001-025. VT...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT Thursday for VTZ013>015. && $$ SYNOPSIS...Gant NEAR TERM...Gant SHORT TERM...Gant LONG TERM...Gant AVIATION...Frugis CLIMATE...Picard/Rathbun