852
FXUS61 KRLX 191636
AFDRLX

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1236 PM EDT Wed Jun 19 2024

.SYNOPSIS...
A heat wave continues throughout the week courtesy of a broad
upper level ridge. Cold front arrives late Sunday night into
Monday, with showers and storms, and somewhat cooler weather.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
As of 1055 AM Wednesday...

The forecast remains on track. Temperatures are forecast to come
closest to record highs across our northern official climate
sites PKB, CKB and EKN, the latter for which the forecast calls
for a tie of the record high there of 89 set in 1905. Refer to
the CLIMATE section below.

As of 620 AM Wednesday...

A few areas of fog that formed will erode early this morning.
No changes to the current forecast are needed at this time.

As of 325 AM Wednesday...

Key Point:
* Hot, but drier and less humid.

Upper ridging maintains control while drier air works into the
low levels during the day. This should allow for dry conditions
across most of the CWA; however, a few showers or storms could
infringe upon the northwest portion of the forecast area as
shortwave energy glides past this afternoon.

While daytime temperatures will still be hot, humidity should
not be as high as it was the past couple of days. Consequently,
the heat index will be less intense this afternoon, likely
topping out in the low to mid 90s for the lowlands. Despite
sub-criteria heat index values, the Heat Advisory remains in
effect for today due to the potential for moderate heat related
impacts eventuated by a prolonged period of hot weather.

Tonight will be warm and dry, with lows in the upper 60s to low 70s
in the lowlands and upper 50s to low 60s along the mountains.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/...
As of 305 AM Wednesday...

The upper-level ridge and surface high pressure will remain
over the area through the end of the week, keeping the CWA hot
and dry for the most part. Highs on Thursday will be in the
mid-90s for most lower elevation locations, though dry air
mixing down will likely help keep heat index values under 100F.
Much of the area will be a few degrees hotter for Friday and
Saturday, and heat index values may get above 100F in many
locations, while a few spots could see air temps hit 100F.
Regardless, it will be quite hot, and with the expectation that
overnight lows will not dip below 70F for much of the lower
elevations each night, the heat stress to public health and
power infrastructure will continue to compound across the area.
Thus the Advisory will remain in place, and at some we will need
to contemplate an extension to Saturday.

A few isolated showers or thunderstorms will be possible Friday
and Saturday in the afternoon and evening hours, primarily over
the higher terrain and in north-central WV. Whatever develops
will be garden variety airmass convection, as very light winds
aloft will provide no shear for storm organization or
longevity.

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
As of 1205 PM Wednesday...

Ridge finally starts to break down on Sunday, as low pressure moves
east across the Great Lakes region, eventually sweeping a cold front
through the area at the start of the long term period. Showers and
thunderstorms will become more numerous on Sunday with the approach
of this system, and an isolated strong to severe storm cannot be
ruled out Sunday and Sunday evening/night. Frontal boundary will
move east of the area on Monday, for drier conditions, as well as a
welcome reprieve from the oppressive heat. Weather beyond Monday is
uncertain at this point, but general consensus at this point is to
maintain mainly dry conditions.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
As of 620 AM Wednesday...

Patchy fog will dissipate in the next couple of hours, then VFR
is expected for the rest of the day. Most of the area should
remain dry while mid to high level clouds stream overhead.

For tonight, cloud cover lessens and winds become calm to
light. VFR will persist for the majority of the area, though a
few models suggest some patchy fog could attempt to form near
EKN.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY...

FORECAST CONFIDENCE: High.

ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Fog could try to form tonight.



EXPERIMENTAL TABLE OF FLIGHT CATEGORY OBJECTIVELY SHOWS CONSISTENCY
OF WFO FORECAST TO AVAILABLE MODEL INFORMATION:
H = HIGH:   TAF CONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL.
M = MEDIUM: TAF HAS VARYING LEVEL OF CONSISTENCY WITH MODELS.
L = LOW:    TAF INCONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL.

UTC 1HRLY       15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   00   01   02
EDT 1HRLY       11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22
CRW CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
HTS CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
BKW CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
EKN CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
PKB CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
CKB CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H

AFTER 18Z THURSDAY...
No widespread IFR conditions are expected at this time.

&&

.CLIMATE...
As of 325 AM Wednesday...

A heat wave continues through the weekend. Temperatures
are forecast to approach record highs at some locations on
several days.

The records for Wednesday, June 19 to Sunday, June 23 are
listed below for our official climate sites, along with the
current forecast values.

           Forecast / Record High Temperatures
--------------------------------------------------------
     Wednesday, 6/19 | Thursday, 6/20 |  Friday, 6/21  |
--------------------------------------------------------
CRW | 92 / 98 (1919) | 93 / 99 (1931) | 96 /105 (1931) |
HTS | 92 / 98 (1994) | 95 /100 (1931) | 96 / 99 (1953) |
CKB | 92 / 94 (1994) | 93 / 94 (1931) | 94 / 98 (1953) |
PKB | 93 / 95 (1994) | 95 / 97 (1931) | 96 / 97 (1953) |
BKW | 85 / 90 (1944) | 88 / 92 (1931) | 90 / 93 (1953) |
EKN | 89 / 89 (1905) | 91 / 92 (1931) | 91 / 92 (1953) |
--------------------------------------------------------
      Saturday, 6/22 |  Sunday, 6/23  |
---------------------------------------
CRW | 97 / 98 (1988) | 94 /100 (1929) |
HTS | 98 / 98 (1988) | 94 /100 (1930) |
CKB | 95 / 97 (1923) | 91 / 96 (1957) |
PKB | 98 / 98 (1988) | 93 / 94 (1964) |
BKW | 91 / 92 (1931) | 89 / 91 (1931) |
EKN | 93 / 93 (1923) | 89 / 89 (1899) |
---------------------------------------

Additionally, the all-time June high temperature records may
be neared in some locations. Listed below are the maximum
temperatures currently forecast during the heat wave versus
the all-time June high temperature records.

     Max Forecast  All-time June Record
-----------------------------------------
CRW |     97     |       105 (1931)     |
HTS |     98     |       105 (1930)     |
CKB |     95     |       100 (1925)     |
PKB |     98     |       100 (1988)     |
BKW |     91     |       100 (1936)     |
EKN |     93     |        96 (2012)     |
-----------------------------------------

&&

.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT Saturday for WVZ005>011-013>020-
     024>032-039-040.
OH...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT Saturday for OHZ066-067-075-076-
     083>087.
KY...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT Saturday for KYZ101>103-105.
VA...None.

&&

$$

SYNOPSIS...TRM/SL
NEAR TERM...TRM/JLB
SHORT TERM...FK
LONG TERM...SL
AVIATION...JLB

CLIMATE...