Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Binghamton, NY

Current Version |  Previous Version |  Graphics & Text |  Print | Product List |  Glossary On
Versions: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
-- Highlight Changed Discussion --
-- Discussion containing changed information from previous version are highlighted. --
524 FXUS61 KBGM 291852 AFDBGM Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Binghamton NY 252 PM EDT Wed May 29 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
-- Changed Discussion --
Scattered showers and weak storms will continue to rotate across the Southern Tier of NY and northeastern Pennsylvania early this evening. Later tonight and on Thursday, drier and cooler air will push in with quiet weather. Temperatures will warm up Friday into the weekend with continued quiet conditions.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .NEAR TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/...
-- Changed Discussion --
252 PM update... Main concerns in the near term remain focused on the areas of showers and thunderstorms rotating southeast across the forecast area later this afternoon and into the evening with locally heavy rain the main threat...then clear and cool conditions tonight with patchy fog...quiet/dry conditions on Thursday with even cooler conditions expected Thu night with more fog possible. A slow-moving upper level short wave currently centered over western PA, stacked on top of the associated surface low, will pick up speed and move east across central/ern PA this evening and tonight. This s/w will entrain a fair amount of deep moisture as it moves east and combine with modest forcing to trigger a blossoming area of rain showers mainly over north central PA, but also spread farther north into s- central NY. PWs advecting into the wave will hover around 1 inch, which is quite below the average of 1.25" for this time of year. Surface dew points in the lower to mid 50s are also on the low end of the spectrum favorable for heavy rain. The amount of forcing and available mid-level moisture is compensating for these slightly drier parameters. There is also slow storm-motion and a pivot point of the upper wave over n-central PA that will contribute to a longer residence time of the rain showers and subsequent heavier rain amounts. Latest mesoanalysis over PA shows an axis of higher instability with around 500 J/kg of ML CAPE between State College and Williamsport. There is a broad area of steeper mid level lapse rates across the region and also SI values around -1 to -2 deg C which are also allowing for some deeper updrafts and enhanced convection. We have already had a report of pea-size hail in one of the storms...which could continue to be a threat along with isolated cloud to ground lightning through the mid evening. The main area of concern through the next 4 hours will be over northeast PA. Some very isolated heavy rain amounts around 1-1.5 inches are possible as well, which could lead to some localized brief ponding of water in typical slow-draining areas. Clouds should clear out tonight as a much drier air mass moves in. This will combine with light winds, especially areas that decouple from the boundary layer, and antecedent near-sfc moisture to produce low clouds and patchy fog. Overnight lows will bottom out in the lower to mid 40s. The very dry air mass will continue to filter into the region tomorrow and allow for mostly sunny skies through the day. Cannot rule out some afternoon cumulus building up, but should be more sun than clouds. High temperatures will rise only into the 60s by the afternoon with breezy NW winds around 10 to 15 mph. A stronger area of high pressure and large scale suppression starts to build in from the west Thursday night, and skies will remain mostly clear, which will set the stage for another unseasonably cool night and even some patchy fog too. Lows will fall back down into the lower to mid 40s Fri night.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... 240 AM update... High pressure will be in control for the end of the work week, giving us quiet conditions. With northerly flow and mostly clear skies Thursday night, good radiational cooling should take place and lead to temperatures cooler than most guidance. The NBM Tenth Percentile was favored for temperatures, lows will be in the upper 30s to low 40s. Temperatures begin to trend warm Friday as heights increase with a ridge building into the region. Highs will be in the upper 60s to mid 70s. Breezy conditions are expected under a tight pressure gradient as peak gusts up to 20 mph possible. Overnight lows Friday will be in the 40s. Despite skies being clear once again Friday night, this forecast favored NBM guidance for now as a warmer air mass continues to work its way into the region. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... 240 AM update... The first half the weekend starts out dry but then a weak disturbance moves in by Sunday. Chances for showers are low, in fact just slight chance as this system will have to overcome the drier air over the region. Weak instability could also support isolated afternoon thunderstorms. This weak shortwave will support spotty showers into Monday as well. A brief break is expected as another upper ridge builds into the region. Then a weak wave embedded in the ridge will kick off additional spotty showers on Tuesday. As with past updates, there remains uncertainty during the early portion of the week, especially with coverage of showers. None of the days look like a wash out at this point though. Temperatures will continue to slowly climb to above average during the first half of the first week of June. Highs will range from the 70s to low 80s on Saturday but 80s will be widespread by Tuesday. The cool nights in the 40s come to an end this forecast period as lows in the 60s become possible by Tuesday night. && .AVIATION /19Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... Weak cold front dropping slowly south across the area this afternoon and interacting with a weak amount of instability to trigger widespread showers and some isolated weak thunderstorms through 6-8 PM this evening. Flight conditions at all terminals are currently VFR, but with the introduction of showers and increased boundary layer moisture, some MVFR vsbys and cigs are possible through 00Z. Drier air is expected to move in from the north/nw tonight which will act to clear out most of the clouds and leave light winds and favorable conditions for radiational cooling and the development of fog and scattered low clouds through early Thu morning. Confidence in IFR conditions is highest at ELM, while it can`t be ruled out at ITH, BGM and AVP. RME and SYR should remain VFR through the period. Winds gusting 10 to 15 kt this afternoon will weaken to 3 kt or less tonight, or calm in some spots, and then become gusty again from the northwest after 14Z Thu 10 to 15 kt. Outlook... Thursday night through Saturday...Quiet pattern with mainly VFR. Sunday through Monday...Small chance of a shower or storm/brief restriction Sunday and Monday afternoon. && .BGM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...None. NY...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...BJT NEAR TERM...BJT SHORT TERM...BTL LONG TERM...BTL AVIATION...BJT/MPH