Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Newport/Morehead, NC
Issued by NWS Newport/Morehead, NC
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081 FXUS62 KMHX 141956 AFDMHX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC 356 PM EDT Sat Sep 14 2024 .SYNOPSIS... A surface trough off the coast of the Carolinas will weaken today as high pressure remains wedged across the mid-Atlantic and central Carolinas. Low pressure developing off the Southeast U.S. coastline impacts the area over the weekend and into early next week, before moving inland mid-week. Troughing will remain over the Eastern Seaboard through next week as well keeping unsettled conditions across ENC. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 3 PM Sat...A broad area of low pressure remains located to our south off the SE coast this afternoon. On the north side of this feature scattered to numerous showers have broken out across Eastern NC with the greatest coverage along the immediate coast. Expect periods of showers to continue through the rest of the afternoon and evening hours with coverage decreasing significantly overnight. A stiff NE breeze and extensive cloud cover has kept temps in the mid to upper 70s this afternoon, and expect only modest cooling tonight with more of the same on the way. Have lows mostly in the upper 60s to low 70s. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY/... As of 3 PM Sat...Similar conditions will continue tomorrow as nearly stationary low pressure over the Gulf Stream begins to organize. Widespread cloudiness is expected as well as occasional showers which will be most widespread along the coast. NE winds will increase through the day to 20-30 mph with gusts to 35 mph possible along the coast as the pressure gradient tightens. Temperatures will again be mild with continued cloud cover, but some peaks of sun are possible across northern NC, and some low 80s will be possible here, with upper 70s elsewhere. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 3 PM Sat...An unsettled weather pattern is forecast for the entire period as a rex block will remain over the Eastern Seaboard into early next week keeping a blocking ridge centered to the north and a stalled frontal boundary and associated developing low pressure system off the Southeast coast. On Monday and into Tuesday, low pressure will slowly track northwards potentially impacting ENC during this timeframe. Afterwards troughing will remain over the Eastern Seaboard into Friday keeping things unsettled across the area with daily chances for showers and thunderstorms. With steady onshore flow over the next several days temps will remain at or below avg through the period as well. Sunday Night into Tuesday... Model trends continue to indicate that an area of low pressure will develop to our south over the Gulf Stream and track northward somewhere over the Carolinas Mon into Tue bringing a threat for several hazards to the area. Surface low pressure does begin to develop on Sun and it is now looking increasingly likely that it will detach from the front and track N to NW Mon into Tue potentially impacting ENC as a sub-tropical or tropical low during this timeframe. EURO and its ensembles have come on board with the GFS and its ensembles bringing a low pressure system either into or near the Carolinas Mon night into Tue morning before this low pushes further north into the Mid-Atlantic and weakens. While there has been increasing confidence in low development, there remains low confidence in the exact track and strength of the low as it approaches the region with both EURO and GFS ensembles having a broad envelope of solutions for the overall outcome of the system. This in turn results in lower confidence in what the exact impacts are across ENC. NHC has recently increased 3/7 day development chances to 40%/50% and any development that would occur looks to be fairly rapid so lead time on this systems development will be unusually low given the circumstances. Regardless of if this system is tropical or not, there remains the potential for heavy rain, coastal impacts, strong winds, and dangerous marine conditions through Tue (SEE COASTAL FLOOD AND HYDRO SECTIONS FOR MORE INFO) Temps will remain at or below avg through Tue as well. Wednesday through end of the week... Previously mentioned upper trough will remain over the Eastern Seaboard through the end of the week while at the surface whatever low develops early this week will have moved to the north and likely dissipated by Wed. Either way, daily chances for showers and thunderstorms will remain possible across ENC into the end of the week as troughing continues to remain a focus for shower and tstm activity. Will note however, winds will finally ease by Wed as the pressure gradient relaxes as a weakness in the ridge centered to our north briefly develops, though a second ridge of high pressure does begin to extend south into the area by Friday. Otherwise continued onshore flow will keep clouds around the region while temps remain at or below avg. && .AVIATION /18Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... SHORT TERM /through Sunday Afternoon/... As of 200 PM Sat...A mix of MVFR and VFR conditions are present across all terminals this afternoon. MVFR conditions may linger for a few more hours as the chance of showers increases this afternoon, and winds will generally be NE at 5-15 kts with potential gusts of 20-25 kts. VFR conditions are expected to return for at least a brief period later this evening before conditions drop back to MVFR during the overnight hours as low stratus builds over the coastal plain. This will also bring a chance for IFR conditions early tomorrow morning for all terminals except EWN. LONG TERM /Sunday Night through Wednesday/... As of 330 PM Sat... No significant changes in the forecast outside of an increasing likelihood of an impactful low pressure system moving across the region on Mon and Tue. Daily chances for showers and thunderstorms across ENC will once again bring daily chances for sub-VFR conditions through the entire period with the highest threat to see sub-VFR conditions on Mon and Tue as the aforementioned low makes its way across the area. Winds will generally remain NE-E at 5-15 kts with gusts up near 20-25 kts through Monday before winds shift to a more SE`rly direction and become much lighter Tue into Wed as the aforementioned low moves to the north. && .MARINE... SHORT TERM /through Sunday/... As of 330 PM Sat...Hazardous boating conditions will continue tonight and worsen tomorrow as strong NE winds persist across the region. Winds will be mostly NE/ENE at 20-30 kts through tonight and then increase to NE 25-35 kts tomorrow with the highest wind gusts south of Cape Hatteras. Gale Watches have been issued for these waters beginning tomorrow afternoon. Seas will be mostly 5-10 ft through tonight and then increase to 8-14 ft by tomorrow afternoon. LONG TERM /Sunday Night through Wednesday/... As of 345 PM Sat... Low pressure system develops Sun night and eventually tracks N to NW across our area Mon night into Tue. This low may gain some sub-tropical or tropical characteristics as this occurs, but regardless if this low becomes tropical or not, marine impacts will be the same. Wind gusts closer to 30-35 kts will be possible at times especially as the aforementioned low moves through the area. High pressure eventually weakens Tue into Wed allowing this aforementioned low to push north away from our waters and allow the pressure gradient to relax resulting in winds easing down to 10-15 kts with gusts up near 20 kts at times coming from a SE- SW direction from Tue afternoon on into the end of the period. Seas will increase to 11-15 ft seas by Mon. Further south across the more protected waters of Onslow Bay, seas will build closer to 5-9 ft Sun night into Monday. These elevated seas will persist into Tue morning before rapidly lowering Tue afternoon and evening as the aforementioned low moves through the area and to the north allowing the pressure gradient and therefore winds to finally ease. Expecting seas to lower to 3-6 ft across Onslow Bay by Wed morning while further to the north seas will lower from 11-15 ft Tue morning down to 5-6 ft by Wed morning. Daily chances for showers and thunderstorms will remain possible through the period as troughing remains entrenched over the Southeast. && .HYDROLOGY... As of 345 PM Sat...Widespread heavy rain is expected late tomorrow through Tuesday as an area of low pressure develops to our south and pushes northward. Abundant tropical moisture with this system will lead to extremely heavy rainfall rates over areas that have become saturated over the last week. In total 4-6 inches of rain is possible along and east of the US 17 corridor, with lesser amounts expected inland over the coastal plain. && .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... As of 345 PM Sat...There will be potential for minor to moderate coastal flooding early this week as winds strengthen in association with a developing low pressure system to our south over the Gulf Stream. Additionally, coastal flooding may be worsened due to the astronomically high tide cycle we are entering. Ahead of this system, strong NE/ENE winds will buildup water along the SE portion of the Pamlico Sound as well as the Neuse, Bay, and Pamlico Rivers. Oceanside, high water levels in addition to strong wave run up will likely produce ocean overwash along NC 12 on the Outer Banks at times of high tide. The severity of these potential impacts is not yet fully known due to the difference in track and intensity solutions for this low pressure system Additionally with this system we can expect a high threat of rip currents, rough and dangerous surf/shore break, and beach erosion. && .MHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NC...Beach Hazards Statement until 8 PM EDT this evening for NCZ196- 203>205. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 8 AM EDT Tuesday for AMZ131-135>137- 230-231. Small Craft Advisory until 8 AM EDT Wednesday for AMZ150-152- 154. Small Craft Advisory until 6 AM EDT Wednesday for AMZ156-158. && $$ SYNOPSIS...MHX NEAR TERM...SGK SHORT TERM...SGK LONG TERM...RCF AVIATION...SGK/RCF/ZC MARINE...SGK/RCF HYDROLOGY...MHX TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...MHX