Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Newport/Morehead, NC

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588 FXUS62 KMHX 191717 AFDMHX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC 117 PM EDT Thu Sep 19 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Upper level low pressure will cross the region today producing unsettled conditions across eastern NC. High pressure will then build over the area over the weekend into early next week with mostly fair weather conditions expected. && .NEAR TERM /THIS AFTERNOON/...
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As of 110 PM Thurs...No real changes to the forecast this afternoon as everything is tracking relatively well. 700 mb front is currently draped along Hwy 264 this afternoon and has become the focus for scattered shower and isolated thunderstorm development. Expect this 700 mb front to continue to drag S`wards through the evening allowing for ongoing shower and isolated thunderstorm activity to gradually drag south as well. Otherwise expecting mo cloudy skies today with high temps in the upper 70s to lower 80s. The persistent eastern upper trough will finally move east and across eastern NC today into tonight. While the initial surface cold front will has moved south of the area this morning, substantial moisture will be left in it`s wake across eastern NC today. The upper trough crossing, diurnal heating and dewpoints around 70F will produce decent instability with MLCAPES up to ~1500 J/kg. This will result in scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms developing across the area, especially this afternoon into early this evening. With PW values forecast in excess of 1.75", torrential downpours will be the main threat as shear appears too weak to support organized severe thunderstorms. Coverage will be greatest east of Highway 17 and south of Highway 264. While we are not expecting widespread flooding with this system the heaviest amounts are forecast to occur along the immediate coast south of Hatteras, in an area which is saturated from the heavy rains of the past 7 days. The CAM`s are indicating local amounts of 2+" which could produce local flooding issues along the coast.
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&& .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT/... As of 300 AM Thursday...Showers and thunderstorms will be ongoing in the early evening, especially along the coast. The activity will begin to weaken rapidly after 00Z with the loss of heating. Expecting any residual shower activity to dissipate around midnight. Guidance is indicating the potential for widespread low clouds and areas of fog to develop after midnight as the low levels remain fairly moist. Lows will be in the mid to upper 60s. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... As of 330 AM Thursday...Mid/upper level trough moves offshore Friday and ridging starts building in through the weekend as a low spins up offshore to our northeast, gradually shifting to our east. Seasonable (or just below) temps through the period and generally dry through Tuesday. Friday: Mid/upper level trough starts moving offshore to the east Friday PM as high pressure starts moving in. Decreased forcing and a drop in PWATs will bring partly cloudy skies and generally dry conditions. Some hi-res guidance is trying to show a few isolated showers along the coastal plain in the evening Friday, but kept mentionable PoPs out of the forecast for now with decreased forcing and a drop in PWATs keeping the environment more unfavorable for precip. Low continues meandering off the delmarva/NJ coast. The Weekend: Dry conditions expected to start the weekend as ridging takes over ENC. Low off the delmarva/NJ coast starts shifting south, but there is still some model uncertainty on the strength of the low and how close to us it reaches. Regardless it will be too far away for any substantial impacts, but it could produce gusts of 20-25 mph for OBX and some showers along and east of hwy 17 along a shortwave. This low could also produce high swell impacting OBX beaches. See TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING section for more information. Monday-Wednesday: Ridging and dry conditions continue through Wednesday. The high over the SE starts weakening and a low trekking across the great lakes region brings higher chances of rain to end the week. && .AVIATION /18Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
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SHORT TERM /through Friday/... As of 115 PM Thurs...Mo cloudy skies, scattered showers, and iso tstms are currently noted across ENC this afternoon as a 700 mb front slowly tracks S`wards. A mix of VFR and MVFR ceilings has overspread ENC as of this update and expect ceilings to gradually rise as the afternoon goes on with a brief period of VFR ceilings likely later today across all terminals. Scattered to numerous showers and isolated thunderstorms will occur this afternoon into early evening. Due to the isolated nature of the thunderstorm threat, I did not feel confident enough to even include a tempo TS risk in the TAFs so left a VCTS mention at all sites through this afternoon. Guidance continues to hint at a period of sub VFR ceilings and visibility after about 06Z tonight and given the current scattered shower activity and expected moist low levels tonight I am inclined to believe it. So once again indicating a period of IFR ceilings/vis in the forecast after 06Z. Expect any low clouds and patchy fog to quickly lift Fri morning with VFR conditions returning across all of ENC by midday. LONG TERM /Friday night through Monday/... As of 345 AM Thursday...VFR conditions expected through the long term, although Saturday morning could see some fog as skies clear and winds calm.
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&& .MARINE... SHORT TERM /Through Tonight/... As of 635 AM Thursday...Outside of scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms which will be occurring along and just off the coast from late this afternoon into this evening, conditions will be decent for mariners. Winds have shifted to N ~10 kt early this morning and will become NE this afternoon while increasing to 10-15 kt. NE winds will continue 10-15 kt tonight. Seas will be 2-4 ft through tonight across most of the waters with higher 3-5 ft seas expected across the outer central waters. LONG TERM /Friday through Monday/... As of 345 AM Thursday...Sustained northerly winds increase to 10-15 kt Friday, near 15 kt Saturday, then 15-20 kt Sunday/Monday. Winds have trended down a tad Sunday into Monday morning, and while SCA conditions are likely, chances of gale force winds have decreased to 10%. The strength of the winds depends on the position and strength of the low developing offshore to our northeast, and how strong the ridging pushing in from the north is. Seas will be 2-4 ft Friday, 3-6 ft Saturday, 4-7 ft Sunday, and 4-9 ft Monday as gusty winds + the low offshore results in higher swell. Waters off Crystal Coast and coastal Onslow will be a bit protected from the more easterly swell courtesy of Cape Lookout, and will be on the lower end of these wave height ranges. && .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... As of 4 AM Thursday...Coastal flooding will continue to be a risk given the higher than normal astronomical tide cycle. Coastal Flood Advisories for all remaining oceanside coastal areas are currently set to last through Saturday. Increased swell from a low offshore brings overwash risks late this weekend into early next week for OBX. && .MHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NC...Coastal Flood Advisory until 10 PM EDT Saturday for NCZ195-196- 199-203>205. Beach Hazards Statement until 8 PM EDT this evening for NCZ203- 205. MARINE...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...MHX NEAR TERM...JME/RCF SHORT TERM...JME LONG TERM...RJ AVIATION...RCF/RJ MARINE...JME/RJ TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...MHX