Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Mt. Holly, NJ

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232 FXUS61 KPHI 180430 AFDPHI Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ 1230 AM EDT Tue Jun 18 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Surface high pressure southeast of New England will slide south on Wednesday and will remain anchored offshore into next weekend. A cold front may bring relief from the heat early next week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TODAY/...
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1230AM update -- No changes to the forecast other than blending in some of the most recent observations to the forecast. Temps are still on the warmer side but should cool just before daybreak before daytime heating really starts to increase. Quiet weather is expected to continue tonight through Tuesday across the Mid Atlantic region. A ridge of high pressure aloft that is centered to our south today and tonight will build across the area through Tuesday. Meanwhile high pressure at the surface will remain offshore, keeping south to southwest winds across the area. Dry conditions continue across the area today, and although there is a cluster of showers and thunderstorms associated with a short wave/vorticity impulse moving out of the Great Lakes this afternoon and tonight, these showers/thunderstorms should dissipate before reaching our area. Mostly an increase in cloud cover is possible overnight Tuesday is expected to remain dry across the area as the ridge aloft builds over the area. The ridge will also allow temperatures to increase more that Monday by several degrees, and with the southerly southwesterly flow at the surface, dewpoints will increase some as well. Heat Index values will increase as well, and although we may not reach the actual criteria numbers, we will keep the Heat Advisory in place across the area due to this being the first day excessive heat impacts.
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&& .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... Through Thursday, the main story remains the hot and dry conditions. The heat will be gradually building both days. The center of the mid and upper level high will be centered very close to our region both days. This will result in large scale subsidence which will mean dry conditions. Given how relatively cool water temperatures still are, there is potential for a sea breeze each afternoon, but it is uncertain how far inland any sea or bay breeze will be able to get. No changes made to the excessive heat watch at this point as we still have time to evaluate model trends. Agree with the previous shift that impacts on Wednesday seem to be trending to falling short of warning levels (especially given that overnight lows will still in the 60s, should have a little relief during the overnight hours), so may have an advisory that day, but will leave it for later shifts to further evaluate. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/... Biggest change in this period is that models are trending later with the cold front arrival. It now appears more likely to arrive Sunday night or Monday, meaning we could have another day of excessive heat impacts on Sunday. Surface high pressure east of Nantucket Island will slowly build south and will be some 550 miles east of Cape Hatteras by the end of the week. Meanwhile, 500 mb ridge remains over the East Coast until sliding southeast early next week as a cold front approaches. During this time, a prolonged period of increasing heat and humidity will build into the region. High temperatures will rise into the mid and upper 90s on Thursday, and then into the upper 90s to around 100 on Friday and Saturday. As mentioned above, this trend may continue into Sunday, but have held off on extending the watch at this time to see if this trend continues. In terms of low level moisture, a light south to southwest flow will prevail. Although dew points will rise into the mid and upper 60s, then into the upper 60s to around 70 by the weekend, it looks like dew points will not get into the mid 70s. This results in max heat index values ranging from around 100 to as high as 110 by Friday, then max heat index values will abate somewhat over the weekend. Meanwhile, low pressure will track across Canada, dragging a trough down into southern Ontario and southern Quebec. As this trough gets closer and the center of the high starts to build away from our region, could see scattered, diurnally-driven showers and storms each afternoon and evening from Friday through Sunday - with the higher chances being north and west of the fall line. && .AVIATION /06Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... The following discussion is for KPHL, KPNE, KTTN, KABE, KRDG, KILG, KMIV, KACY and surrounding areas. Tonight...VFR. South winds 5-10 knots, becoming 5 knots or less everywhere overnight. High confidence. Tuesday...VFR...South to southwest winds 5-10 knots, occasional gusts around 15 knots later in the day. High confidence. Outlook... Tuesday night through Thursday...VFR. Friday through Saturday...predominantly VFR, but isolated TSRA possible each afternoon and evening. && .MARINE... Through Tuesday...Conditions expected to remain below advisory levels. Winds will gust around 20 knots, especially right along the beaches and in the backbays. Farther offshore, there will likely be enough of an inversion to limit mixing and stronger gusts. Outlook... Tuesday night through Saturday...Winds and seas should generally stay below SCA criteria. However, winds on northern NJ ocean waters may get close to 25 kt each afternoon. Rip Currents... Through Wednesday, southerly winds of 10-20 mph along the coast with some enhancement from sea breeze circulations. Breaking waves in the surf zone are forecast to be around 2 feet, however there looks to be some longer period swell energy rolling in. Given the southerly wind component intersecting more of the New Jersey coast, went with a MODERATE risk for the development of dangerous rip currents both Tuesday and Wednesday. A more parallel wind for the Delaware Beaches and therefore a LOW risk. For specific beach forecasts, visit weather.gov/beach/phi && .CLIMATE... Record high temperatures Tuesday. Location Record High (6/18) Philadelphia, PA 96/1957 Allentown, PA 95/2018 Reading, PA 97/1957 Mount Pocono, PA 88/1957 Trenton, NJ 96/1957 AC Airport, NJ 95/2014 AC Marina, NJ 94/2014 Wilmington, DE 95/1957 Georgetown, DE 97/2014 Record high temperatures Wednesday. Location Record High (6/19) Philadelphia, PA 100/1994 Allentown, PA 96/1994 Reading, PA 95/1929 Mount Pocono, PA 86/1929 Trenton, NJ 96/1994 AC Airport, NJ 96/1994 AC Marina, NJ 93/1952 Wilmington, DE 100/1994 Georgetown, DE 96/1952 Record high temperatures Thursday. Location Record High (6/20) Philadelphia, PA 98/1931 Allentown, PA 100/1923 Reading, PA 101/1923 Mount Pocono, PA 89/2012 Trenton, NJ 98/1923 AC Airport, NJ 95/2012 AC Marina, NJ 90/1908 Wilmington, DE 97/2012 Georgetown, DE 98/2012 Record high temperatures Friday. Location Record High (6/21) Philadelphia, PA 99/1923 Allentown, PA 100/1923 Reading, PA 99/1923 Mount Pocono, PA 90/1953 Trenton, NJ 97/1923 AC Airport, NJ 97/1988 AC Marina, NJ 94/2012 Wilmington, DE 98/2012 Georgetown, DE 99/2012 Record high temperatures Saturday. Location Record High (6/22) Philadelphia, PA 100/1988 Allentown, PA 95/1941 Reading, PA 96/1921 Mount Pocono, PA 90/1908 Trenton, NJ 99/1988 AC Airport, NJ 100/1988 AC Marina, NJ 92/1949 Wilmington, DE 98/1988 Georgetown, DE 97/2012 && .PHI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
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PA...Heat Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 6 AM EDT Wednesday for PAZ054-055-060>062-070-071-101>106. Excessive Heat Watch from Wednesday morning through Saturday evening for PAZ054-055-060>062-070-071-101>106. NJ...Heat Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 6 AM EDT Wednesday for NJZ001-007>010-012-013-015>020-027. Excessive Heat Watch from Wednesday morning through Saturday evening for NJZ001-007>010-012-013-015>020-027. DE...Heat Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 6 AM EDT Wednesday for DEZ001. Excessive Heat Watch from Wednesday morning through Saturday evening for DEZ001. MD...None. MARINE...None.
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&& $$ SYNOPSIS...Johnson/MPS NEAR TERM...Deal/MJL/Robertson SHORT TERM...Johnson/MPS LONG TERM...Johnson/MPS AVIATION...Johnson/MJL/Robertson MARINE...Gorse/Johnson/Robertson CLIMATE...