Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Sterling, VA

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372 FXUS61 KLWX 310757 AFDLWX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 357 AM EDT Fri May 31 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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High pressure will continue to influence the Mid-Atlantic region through Saturday before moving offshore. Mostly dry conditions and a warmup will ensue through the early weekend before showers and thunderstorms return late Sunday into early next week. The high will remain offshore through early next week.
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&& .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
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A much cooler airmass is being observed across the area early this morning. Some spots along the Allegheny Front have been in the upper 20s to low 30s in isolated areas. Otherwise, low to mid 30s will be most common around there with 40s to low 50s further east towards the I-95 corridor. Frost Advisories remain in effect across the Allegheny Front through 8 AM this morning. High pressure will continue to settled nearby or overhead today with abundant sunshine across the region. Highs will climb into the low to mid 70s for most with 60s in the mountains. By tonight, cooler temperatures will return with 40s expected along and west of the Blue Ridge, with 50s more common further east.
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&& .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
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Dry conditions continue into Saturday with a return of some high cirrus clouds around. A gradual warmup is expected with afternoon highs on Saturday in the upper 70s to low 80s. Winds will remain light out of the south throughout the day. By Saturday night, clouds will continue to increase from the west with dry conditions expected and overnight lows in the mid 50s to low 60s for most of the area. By Sunday, low-level moisture will increase thanks to a series of shortwaves that will impact the Mid-Atlantic through early next week. Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible on Sunday, moving in from west (early) to east (later). Overall, any storms should behave in terms of intensity but cannot completely rule out some gusty winds or hail with any storms that strengthen. Winds out of the southwest will strengthen during the day, with 15 to 20 knot gusts possible.
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&& .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
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A weak upper trough will depart offshore on Monday, leaving us under low-amplitude upper level ridging for Monday into Tuesday. Instability is expected to be limited both days, and there won`t be much synoptic scale forcing for ascent, so conditions are expected to remain mainly dry. High temperatures both days are forecast to be in the low-mid 80s, with overnight lows in the 60s. As we move toward the middle of the week, upper troughing and an associated surface cold front will start to dive southeastward from the Northern Plains toward the Great Lakes, and eventually the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic. Spread in model guidance starts to increase during this time period, with some solutions showing the trough closing off into an upper low and becoming cut off from the main belt of westerlies to our north. This casts some uncertainty in both the temperature and precipitation forecast, but most guidance favors increasing chances for afternoon showers and thunderstorms on Wednesday and Thursday.
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&& .AVIATION /08Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
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VFR conditions are expected for the terminals through the first half of the weekend. Dry conditions are expected for the terminals during this time thanks to an area of high pressure nearby or overhead. Northerly winds may be a bit gusty (15-20 knots) for a short period this afternoon before subsiding. Winds will become southerly and light on Saturday. Sub-VFR conditions may briefly mix into the area late Sunday ahead of an approaching disturbance poised to bring showers and thunderstorms back to the terminals Sunday afternoon and evening. Prevailing VFR conditions are expected on both Monday and Tuesday. Winds will be light out of the north to northwest on Monday, and light out of the southeast on Tuesday.
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&& .MARINE...
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SCA winds are expected through a majority of today with gusts up to 20 knots out of the north. These winds will begin to subside later today and into tonight. Sub-SCA winds are expected through early Sunday before some gusty southerly winds pick back up along with isolated showers and thunderstorms that may cross the waters later in the day on Sunday. Sub-SCA northerly winds are expected on Monday. Winds should turn southeasterly on Tuesday and remain sub-SCA in nature.
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&& .LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
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DC...None. MD...Frost Advisory until 8 AM EDT this morning for MDZ001. VA...Frost Advisory until 8 AM EDT this morning for VAZ503. WV...Frost Advisory until 8 AM EDT this morning for WVZ501-505. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 11 AM EDT this morning for ANZ530>534-537>543.
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&& $$ SYNOPSIS...ADM NEAR TERM...ADM SHORT TERM...ADM LONG TERM...KJP AVIATION...KJP/ADM MARINE...KJP/ADM