Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Sterling, VA

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202 FXUS61 KLWX 110757 AFDLWX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 357 AM EDT Tue Jun 11 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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A weak area of low pressure passes off to the southeast while high pressure returns through Thursday leading to mostly dry conditions. A cold front tracks through the area on Friday leading to renewed shower and thunderstorm chances. High pressure settles over the area this weekend.
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&& .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
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A broad positively-tilted trough currently anchors the Eastern Seaboard up into the Canadian Maritimes. On the more local scale, weak ascent accompanying some embedded perturbations in the flow continue to spark light shower activity. This is evident on the WSR-88D radar imagery with some weak returns noted along and east of I-95 in Maryland. While the 06Z RAP objective analysis depicts 250-500 J/kg of MUCAPE, it is capped with quite a bit of inhibition (CIN). Thus, do not expect the ongoing activity to increase in strength as it heads toward the Chesapeake Bay. Otherwise, the main story will be the mixture of low to mid-level cloud cover. A mainly overcast sky remains in control early this morning with current temperatures generally in the mid 50s to mid 60s. For those near the Alleghenies, reduced visibilities are evident on multi-channel nighttime satellite imagery and local observations. These areas of patchy fog will likely persist until a couple hours after sunrise. For the rest of the day, the guidance shows weak cyclogenesis unfolding off the Carolina coast. The swath of showers that develop with the associated convergence axis mainly stays east of I-95. As such, have painted an area of isolated showers and thunderstorms for this region during the afternoon to early evening hours. Elsewhere, expect the cyclonic flow aloft to keep a mixed bag of clouds and sun around. This will bring continued below average temperatures along with reduced humidity levels. Forecast high temperatures today sit in the mid/upper 70s, locally falling into the 60s across the higher terrain. High pressure settles over the Mid-Atlantic back into the Tennessee Valley tonight. This allows winds to go calm overnight with some lingering high clouds overhead. Another round of patchy fog is possible overnight as moisture gets trapped underneath developing radiation inversions. The most likely area for such fog development would be from I-81, especially within river and mountain valleys. Forecast low temperatures stay on the cool side with widespread 50s expected.
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&& .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/...
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The trough axis anchoring the eastern U.S. should more or less consolidate into a closed low off the New England coastline. The trailing synoptic flow turns more west-northwesterly in nature with a gradual increase in mid-level heights. Rebounding heights coupled with a shift to low-level southwesterly winds will aid in a warming trend for the middle to latter portions of the work week. The increase in heights aloft along with high pressure at the surface should yield a mostly sunny day across the region. This dry pattern persists through Thursday before the next cold front impacts the region by Friday. While the mercury will rise during this transition, dew points stay low enough to prevent conditions from becoming too humid. By Thursday afternoon, forecast 850-mb temperatures peak in the 14-17C range. Mixing this air mass dry adibatically to the surface would yield highs in the upper 80s to low 90s. Thursday night`s low temperatures turn to more typical June levels, generally in the mid 60s to low 70s.
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&& .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
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A cold front will slide southeast across the region Friday into Friday night. Warmth and humidity will be increasing ahead of it to help to fuel any showers and thunderstorms that develop ahead of and along the cold front. At this time it is too early to tell if thunderstorms will be typical for June or if they will pack a punch with damaging winds, hail or tornadoes. Expected high temperatures will reach the lower to perhaps middle 90s with slightly cooler temperatures in the western mountains. High pressure will build in behind the cold front that is expected to move farther to the south late Friday night into Saturday. The high will bring lower humidity on a northwest to northerly wind Saturday. Dry conditions expected with high temperatures about 10 degrees cooler Saturday and highs in the middle 80s. Dry conditions continue with seasonable temperatures on Sunday with high pressure shifting its center to the east. By Monday, the high will be to the east to allow for southeast to southerly winds to develop and bring back the higher humidity. Although a higher elevated shower or thunderstorm can`t be ruled out in the Alleghenies Monday afternoon as highs reach the 90s again, most areas will be dry.
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&& .AVIATION /07Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
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Expect a lengthy period of VFR conditions with surface high pressure in control of the weather through Thursday night. The forecast is mainly dry during this period. However, isolated showers and thunderstorms this afternoon may impact some spots east of I-95. Depending on how far west these materialize, some brief restrictions are possible at KDCA, KBWI, and KMTN. May introduce a VCSH group at these terminals in the next TAF issuance. Winds through Wednesday stay on the light side given weak gradients around the ridge of high pressure. Winds shift from northwesterly to south-southwesterly on Wednesday. This pattern persists into Thursday with an uptick in gusts on Thursday, generally up to 10-15 knots. VFR conditions could briefly become MVFR conditions in any heavy showers and thunderstorms Friday into Friday evening, particularly at MRB, IAD, DCA, BWI and MTN. However, confidence at this time is low that MVFR conditions will occur at these terminals. Winds southwest 5 to 10 knots shifting to northwest Friday into Friday night. VFR conditions return anyway late Friday night through Saturday night. Winds north becoming northeast 5 to 10 knots late Friday night into Saturday.
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&& .MARINE...
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Northerly winds this morning have finally begun to decrease in strength with gusts topping out between 10 to 15 knots. Expect isolated showers and thunderstorms this afternoon to early evening. However, do not expect these to be strong enough to issue Special Marine Warnings. Winds remain below advisory levels through mid-week with a shift to southeries the second half of Wednesday. Southerly channeling effects become more prominent from Thursday evening into the night, especially over the wider portions of the Chesapeake Bay. Any heavy showers or developing thunderstorms that develop Friday into Friday evening could lead to Special Marine Warnings given the higher heat and humidity that fuels this activity. Otherwise, no marine hazards late Friday night through Saturday night. Winds southwest shifting northwest 10 knots gusts to 15 knots Friday into Friday night. Winds north becoming northeast 10 knots Saturday and Saturday night.
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&& .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
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Sensitive sites like Annapolis and Straits Point will or could see action stage this morning. Otherwise, tides will behave and remain below action stage at the other sites today and into the heart of the weekend.
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&& .LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
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DC...None. MD...None. VA...None. WV...None. MARINE...None.
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&& $$ SYNOPSIS...BRO NEAR TERM...BRO SHORT TERM...BRO LONG TERM...KLW AVIATION...BRO/KLW MARINE...BRO/KLW TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...KLW