Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Wilmington, NC

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585
FXUS62 KILM 201950
AFDILM

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
350 PM EDT Fri Sep 20 2024

.SYNOPSIS...
A stray shower or storm is possible this afternoon across
southeast North Carolina. Forecast dries out completely just in
time for the weekend, with high pressure dominating.
Temperatures linger near or just above seasonal norms through
early next week. Next appreciable rain chances look to return by
the middle of next week with the next frontal system.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/...
Weak high pressure basically east of the Appalachians
remains in control this afternoon although the overall column
continues to show some decent moisture. This led to good coverage of
fog and stratus this morning and should do so once again Saturday. A
few showers have/are developing just to the north of the area and
added some minimal pops for a handful of hours this afternoon to
address. Moisture decreases further Saturday and hopefully the
weakly forced showers won`t develop. Tonight`s lows will be in the
middle 60s with highs Saturday similar to today`s values in the
middle 80s.

&&

.SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
No major forecast changes but have slightly increased rain chances
late Sunday into Sunday night over SE NC. We`ll be sitting in
largely northerly flow coming down and around the mountains when a
shortwave looks to push through late Sunday. The issue will be the
dry mid-levels, so have increased chances but still kept areas over
land dry. Could see this changing with future updates, but not
expecting large rainfall totals regardless. Otherwise, should see
some warming ahead of this disturbance with highs Sunday getting
into the mid to upper 80s. Lows Saturday night will be in the low to
mid 60s with slight warming and increasing cloud cover leading to
lows in the mid to upper 60s Sunday night.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Conditions should remain quiet under ridging high pressure until the
middle of next week where moisture starts to increase due to a
frontal system to our west. Regardless of when the front from this
system reaches the area, expecting increasing rain chances and
warming temperatures ahead of it.

Guidance remains messy with the area of development in the Caribbean
and even moreso with the disturbance behind it. To put something out
there, ensembles seem to be agreeing that there will be some area of
low pressure of questionable strength nearing or around the Gulf of
Mexico by the end of the long term period, but this could change
with subsequent updates to the forecast.

&&

.AVIATION /20Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Overall pattern both synoptic and mesoscale both similar to this
time yesterday and have used these trends for the forecast. This
yields VFR well into the evening hours with fog then developing.
Expect IFR inland with MVFR along the coast although
considering this morning`s observations IFR may indeed develop
along the coast as well.

Extended Outlook...Mainly dry with VFR conditions, but early
morning MVFR/IFR cannot be ruled out at times.

&&

.MARINE...
Through Saturday...Persistent conditions across the coastal
waters tonight and Saturday. Winds will be from the north in a
range of 10-15 knots. Significant seas will be 2-3 feet for the
most part but may see a slight increase later Saturday with 2-4
feet.

Saturday Night through Wednesday...Winds will generally be E/NE
becoming more onshore in the afternoons with the sea breeze, speeds
in the 10-15 kt range. Waveheights generally 2-3 ft with some 4
footers possible ~20 nm out from the SE NC coast.

&&

.TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
Coastal flooding remains a threat through the weekend with high
astronomical tides and a modest northeast flow. The beaches
seem secure for advisory criteria while downtown Wilmington may
reach warning criteria another cycle or two.

&&

.ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...Coastal Flood Advisory from 9 PM this evening to midnight EDT
     tonight for NCZ106-108-110.
     Coastal Flood Advisory from 10 PM this evening to 3 AM EDT
     Saturday for NCZ107-109.
SC...Coastal Flood Advisory from 9 PM to 11 PM EDT this evening for
     SCZ054-056.
MARINE...None.

&&

$$

SYNOPSIS...ILM
NEAR TERM...SHK
SHORT TERM...LEW
LONG TERM...LEW
AVIATION...SHK
MARINE...SHK/LEW
TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...