Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Sterling, VA

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365 FXUS61 KLWX 111747 AFDLWX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 147 PM 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. Next week looks to become hot as a strong upper ridge builds towards the region.
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&& .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
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Remaining dry thus far this afternoon as high pressure gradually builds east towards the region. Cloudcover is pretty abundant across much of the region, but should generally stay dry. Given the developing weak low pressure system offshore, could see a few showers back their way towards the west into areas along the Chesapeake Bay. I doubt we even get thunder with any of these, so took it out of the forecast outside of extreme southern MD, where temps and dew points are both a touch higher. 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 on Wednesday. The trailing synoptic flow turns more west- northwesterly in nature with a gradual increase in mid-level heights overhead. 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. Humidity will actually remain fairly low for this time of year, as there isn`t a great plume of moisture being pulled in, even amidst southerly flow. Dew points are forecast to reach the upper 50s to low 60s on Wednesday, then a few degrees higher on Thursday. By Thursday afternoon, forecast 850-mb temperatures peak in the 14-17C range. Mixing this air mass dry adiabatically 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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Surface high to our east moves well out into the Atlantic Ocean Friday, as a weak cold front dips south into the area during the second half of the day. Southwesterly flow is likely to produce the highest temperatures of the week, with highs reaching the lower 90s, with mid 90s most likely in central VA. The downslope component of the wind and previous days of dry conditions should limit heat indices to the upper 90s. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are likely to develop along the cold front. A severe thunderstorm or two is possible. However, westerly flow aloft tends to diminish severe storm threat in this area, and instability will be tempered by low to mid 60s dew points. Any delay in the FROPA arrival will push storms into the nighttime, which should further limit the severe potential. Something to monitor in the days to come. High pressure builds across the region over the weekend, bringing slightly above normal highs in the mid to upper 80s and dry conditions. Overnight lows remain mild in the 60s, though upper 50s possible for most of the area Saturday night. Next week looks to start exceedingly hot as mid to upper level ridging takes hold across much of the eastern CONUS. Based on various ensembles, the mid-level ridge will be near or over our area Monday and Tuesday. This is likely to push afternoon highs in the mid to upper 90s.
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&& .AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
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VFR conditions with light winds expected really through at least Thursday night. Could see a few isolated showers this afternoon east of I-95, which could impact MTN/BWI. However, don`t really expect these to drop VSBY much or cause any disruptions. Can`t completely rule out thunder, but chances have decreased. Winds turn southerly Wednesday afternoon, albeit still AOB 10 knots. Winds will then increase into Thursday ahead of an approaching cold front to around 15 to 20 knots out of the S/SW. A cold front moving across the area Friday afternoon into Friday evening will bring scattered showers and thunderstorms. The stronger storms could produce brief periods of sub-VFR conditions and gusty winds. High pressure builds in behind the cold front Friday night into the weekend. Outside of any shower/storms on Friday, VFR conditions are expected through the weekend.
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&& .MARINE...
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Northerly winds around 10 to 15 knots being observed over the wider portions of the Chesapeake Bay at this time especially. Elsewhere, generally AOB 10 knots. Other than clouds and perhaps an isolated shower this afternoon, not expecting all that much today, so no marine hazards are expected. Winds remain below advisory levels through the first half of the day on Thursday. Winds will shift to southerly the second half of Wednesday but should remain fairly light. This will change on Thursday as southerly winds increase ahead of an approaching cold front. Southerly channeling effects become much more prominent from Thursday evening into the night, especially over the wider portions of the Chesapeake Bay. This will likely need a Small Craft Advisory as we get closer in time. Southerly channeling could produce SCA conditions in the open waters of the Chesapeake Bay Friday afternoon. A cold front is forecast to cross the waters during the second half of Friday, bringing scattered showers and thunderstorms. Any strong storm could be capable of producing wind gusts of 35 knots or greater. Another period of SCA conditions is possible behind the cold front early Saturday morning through mid Saturday afternoon as northerly channeling produces gusts of 20-25 knots.
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&& .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
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Not tidal flooding is expected through Wednesday as winds remain light. However, as winds turn southerly late Wednesday into Thursday, tidal anomalies will rise as a result. This could result in some minor tidal flooding towards the end of the week. No flooding is forecast at this time, but the current forecast does gradually rise some of the more sensitive sites well into action stage, so it will certainly be close.
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&& .CLIMATE...
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High temperatures could approach records on both Thursday and Friday afternoon. Below is a list of record high temperatures for June 13th and 14th, the year the record was set, and the current forecast high temperatures for those days. Thursday Jun 13th Climate Site Record High Forecast High Washington-National (DCA) 96F (1954) 91F Washington-Dulles (IAD) 95F (2017) 91F Baltimore (BWI) 97F (2017+) 91F Friday Jun 14th Climate Site Record High Forecast High Washington-National (DCA) 98F (1954) 94F Washington-Dulles (IAD) 98F (1994) 94F Baltimore (BWI) 98F (1994) 93F + indicates that value has been reached on multiple years, with the year displayed being the most recent.
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&& .LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... DC...None. MD...None. VA...None. WV...None. MARINE...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...BRO NEAR TERM...CJL/BRO SHORT TERM...CJL/BRO LONG TERM...KRR AVIATION...CJL/KRR MARINE...CJL/KRR TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...CJL CLIMATE...CJL