Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Raleigh/Durham, NC

Home |  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
-- Remove Highlighting --
-- Discussion containing changed information from previous version are highlighted. --
442 FXUS62 KRAH 230745 AFDRAH Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Raleigh NC 345 AM EDT Mon Sep 23 2024 .SYNOPSIS... A back-door cold front will move through central NC through this evening, then stall and waver over SC and southwestern NC Monday through Tuesday. && .NEAR TERM /TODAY AND TONIGHT/...
-- Changed Discussion --
As of 345 AM Monday... ...Increasing rain chances from the west this evening and tonight... Aloft: Weak H5 rises are expected over the region as the upper ridge over the GOM builds towards the Florida Peninsula and across the SE US. Weak impulses ejecting NE out ahead of the positive-tilt trough advancing east over the MS Valley, will move through the southern and middle Appalachians and into the southern mid-Atlantic region tonight. At the surface: Yesterday`s back-door cool front appears to be in the process of stalling out across upstate SC. A northward wavering of the front into southern/southwestern NC is possible later this afternoon and evening as a ridge of weak surface high extends down the Atlantic coast. In response to the feed of low-level dry air along the coast, the extensive low overcast is expected to erode along it`s eastern edge later this morning and into the afternoon, while likely persisting, in some diminished fashion, across the NC Piedmont through much of the day. Exactly where and when the breaks/partial breaks in cloud cover develop will be a decisive factor in today`s forecast highs. Thus, a little more challenging than most days. Highs ranging form mid 70s north to mid 80s. As far as rain chances, while an isolated shower/storm is possible INVOF the surface front, it looks mostly dry through the afternoon. Then during the evening and overnight hours, rain chances will increase from west to east as strengthening WAA, fueled by the aforementioned upper level impulse with a similar signal for ins, support scattered showers and storms. Rainfall amounts of 0.10 to 0.25" is expected across the NC Piedmont, with some localized higher amounts near 0.50" possible. Lows again in the lower 60s NE to upper 60s south.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .SHORT TERM /TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT/...
-- Changed Discussion --
As of 345 AM Monday... ...Periods of showers and storms... In the wake of the lead shortwave trough over the MS Valley, a more vigorous mid/upper level trough will dig southward into the southern Plains and MS Valley through Tuesday night. The upper ridge centered over the SE US will begin to shift towards the Atlantic coast. Though weakening, a stalled surface front will remain draped near the SC/NC line. Tuesday is setting up to be a rather unsettled day. Should see some ongoing convection across the area Tuesday morning, followed by additional/periods of convective rain chances Tuesday afternoon owing to more robust diurnal destablization. Rain chances will continue Tuesday night, especially across the western Piedmont within the broad warm moist air advection regime ahead of the approaching trough. Strong destablization of 2000-2500 J/Kg coupled with deep layer shear of 35-40 kts could result in some a few strong to severe storms Tuesday afternoon/early evening, mainly across the western Piedmont. Under extensive cloudiness, highs in the lower/mid 70s north to mid 80s south. Lows 65-70.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 335 AM Monday... Increased chance of precipitation through the long term period despite the uncertainty with respect to the development and track of the tropical cyclone in the Gulf of Mexico mid week. On Wednesday, a cold front moving east across the OH and TN valley will weaken as it moves into the region Wednesday afternoon. Expect scattered showers and isolated storms in the afternoon especially in the NW Piedmont as models are depicting afternoon CAPE values range from 500-1000 J/kg. With that, high temperatures in the NW will range from the upper 70s to low 80s and in the SE low to mid 80s. For the rest of the week and into the weekend, deterministic models are showing a tropical cyclone landfall somewhere along the Florida Panhandle or Big Bend area of Florida Thursday afternoon or evening. While the intensity, timing, and location is uncertain for now, models have come in more agreement in the past few model runs. Either way, Central NC is expected to begin to see some impacts as early as late Thursday night/early Friday morning. While most models show the center of the storm staying west of the region, increased moisture from the Atlantic will help support showers and storms through the day Friday. For the weekend, the forecast will depend largely on the the timing and location of the TC remnants, thus kept low end slight chance PoPs for Saturday and Sunday but with very low confidence. Temperatures will be a few degrees above normal on Thursday with highs in the upper 70s to low 80s. The rest of the week/weekend becoming near average for the the rest of the week and weekend with highs ranging mid/upper 70s to low 80s. && .AVIATION /06Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... As of 140 AM Monday... NELY low-level flow behind back the back-door cold front passage has ushered in IFR to MVFR ceilings into the area. Ceilings should lower further to LIFR through 12z, especially at KINT and KGSO, where the low-level saturated layer will bank up against the eastern slopes. Additional, patchy fog may promote reduce visibilities around daybreak, with models currently showing the best fog signal over the northern coastal plain, INVOF KRWI. At KINT, KGSO, and KRDU: The sub-VFR ceilings will be slow to lift throughout the day, eventually lifting to MVFR during the afternoon. Ceilings could temporary improve to VFR during the late afternoon/early evening, but should be short-lived before ceilings lower again during the evening and overnight hours At KRWI and KFAY: Drier air across eastern NC should allow flight conditions to improve much quicker, Ceilings at KRWI are expected to lift to VFR by mid/late morning, while KFAY could be delayed until the afternoon. Precipitation wise: Scattered rain showers and storms are expected to spread west to east across the area during the evening and overnight hours, with the best rain chances expected at KINT and KGSO. Outlook: Expect daily scattered showers and storms through much of the work week. A tropical system could bring impacts to our area by Friday, but confidence is currently low. Additionally, sub-VFR restrictions in fog/stratus will be possible each morning. && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...MWS NEAR TERM...CBL SHORT TERM...CBL LONG TERM...CA AVIATION...CBL