Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Binghamton, NY

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738 FXUS61 KBGM 261754 AFDBGM Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Binghamton NY 154 PM EDT Wed Jun 26 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Partly sunny and warm through the early afternoon hours today. Then, numerous showers and scattered strong to severe thunderstorms will impact the area by late afternoon into this evening. Rain showers continue overnight, before conditions dry out with gradual clearing on Thursday. Expect seasonable temperatures with dry and mostly sunny skies for Friday. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... 1225 PM Update... The cloud cover over CNY has kept dewpts in the 50s. Elsewhere, dewpts have climbed into the 60s, which is mainly across the Twin Tiers and NEPA. The current thinking is that the best conditions for scattered strong to severe thunderstorms will be across these areas with skies have been more sunny and dewpts have climbed into the 60s. Temperatures are already into the mid 80s at some locations as well. Models have also showed that the better conditions would likely be in the areas mentioned. With these storms, there will be heavy rainfall. Flash flood guidance across NEPA and the Catskills is high and that`s where models are targeting with the higher rainfall as well. Concerns for isolated hydro issues would increase if the higher rainfall were to extend farther north as most of CNY counties are at least a 0.5 inch lower with FFG than areas south. Onset timing has not changed much based on the latest CAMs. It does look like the rain and storms will move out quicker overnight than previous forecasted. PoPs were updated based on the newer guidance, but some slight changes may be needed this afternoon. 915 AM Update... A layer of clouds has nudged into the Twin Tiers. This layer extends all the way back into the Central Great Lakes region. This layer of clouds will continue to spread eastward, so sky cover was increased throughout the day. Temperatures are quickly rising as Syracuse has already hit 80. Highs may need to be increased, but were left alone for now as recent guidance kept temps similar. Early assessment of model guidance indicates no changes to what was previously seen for the potential of severe weather today. There still remains uncertainty with the instability gradient, but the best conditions will be over the southern half of our CWA. Of course, we will have to monitor how conditions evolve throughout the day. 645 AM Update No significant changes to the near term portion of the forecast with this sunrise update. Latest visible satellite loop shows a mix of clouds and sun out there early this morning, with decreasing clouds expected through the morning and early afternoon hours. Hourly temperatures were adjusted based on the latest observations and trends. It is a very warm start out there today for some locations; many areas are starting out in the upper 60s to mid-70s as of 6 AM...but the cooler valleys that decoupled are in the lower 60s. The timing and intensity of the potential severe storms remains the same on the latest 06z 3km NAM and 09z HRRR runs. For what it is worth the HRRR continues to show isolated very strong winds (50-65 kts) with some of the storms early this evening...this is usually overdone, but it is an interesting signal to see in the guidance. 430 AM Update A few isolated to scattered showers will be possible through daybreak over northern portions of central NY. Otherwise, clouds will scatter out with mostly sunny conditions later this morning and into at least the early afternoon hours. It will be warm with highs generally in the 80s to around 90. The main concerns in the near term will be a Slight Risk for scattered severe thunderstorms late this afternoon and evening from the Twin Tiers and Catskills south across all of NE PA. There is a Marginal Risk for an isolated severe storm further north across the I-90 corridor and Mohawk Valley. The main hazards with any severe storms today will be strong to damaging winds and torrential downpours, so isolated instances of hail are also possible. CAMS and model guidance continue to struggle with the amount of low level moisture (i.e. sfc dew points) later this afternoon and evening, and therefore the amount of MLCAPE that will be present. Our CWA will have a tight instability or CAPE gradient setting up; likely somewhere near the Twin Tiers. Based on some of the CAMs, such as the 00z and 06z 3km NAM it appears that a differential moisture boundary sets up across the Southern Tier this afternoon, with northerly winds advecting in drier, more stable air into northern portions of Central NY. The 00z 3km NAM indicates that for locations able to maintain sfc dew points in the mid 60s to around 70, SBCAPE could reach 2000 J/Kg, with MLCAPE between 1000-2000 J/kg. The highest amounts of instability will be in place over NE PA, with the instability gradient setting up over the NY Southern Tier region. 0-6km deep layer shear is forecast to reach 40-50 kts over the area. LIs may reach -9 over NE PA along with mid level lapse rates approaching 7.0C/Km. DCAPE over NE PA and the Southern Tier of NY will range from 600-1000 J/Kg, which is favorable for strong, isolated damaging winds to mix down to the surface in or near thunderstorms. The last several runs of the HRRR are showing the potential for thunderstorm wind gusts of 50 kts + with some the modeled storm cells; again mainly over the Slight Risk area mentioned above. The main timeframe to see these potentially severe thunderstorms will be from around 5-7 PM in the Central Southern Tier region, reaching I-81 corridor by 7-9 PM and the southern Catskills between 8-10 PM. With PWATs up to 1.9 inches over NE PA and 1.75 in CNY, locally heavy to excessive rainfall and isolated flash- flooding could also occur with any training thunderstorms. Further north across the I-90 corridor to Mohawk valley the limiting factor for severe weather and flash flooding will be the low atmospheric instability; but still a marginal risk and worth monitoring trends through the day. After the strong to severe storms pass by to the east by around 11 PM this evening an area of stratiform rainfall will linger for several hours. Areal average rainfall amounts are forecast to range from 0.5 to 1.0 inch; but certainly higher amounts are likely where the heavier and more persistent thunderstorms develop. Winds turn west-northwest later tonight and a good deal of cloud cover lingers. Can`t rule out some patchy fog, but confidence was low due to the increasing wind speeds up to around 10 mph before daybreak Thursday. Seasonable overnight lows in the upper 50s to low 60s expected. Clouds linger Thursday morning under the upper level trough in the moist, cooler NW flow. Eventually drier air mixes out the clouds, giving way to mostly sunny skies Thursday afternoon. There will be a northwest breeze between 10-20 mph. Temperatures will be cooler, but with the afternoon sun it still manages to reach into the 70s areawide; with low 80s in the Wyoming Valley. Overall, much quieter weather expected on Thursday. && .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY/...
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1750 PM Update... Capped the short term period at Friday as high pressure will still be overhead during the day, but pushes east Friday night. Previous Discussion... Quiet weather on Friday with high pressure centered over our region. Mostly sunny skies are expected with temperatures climbing into the upper 70s to low 80s. Clouds will begin to move in Friday evening as the next system approaches. Lows will return to normal with temperatures ranging in the upper 50s to mid 60s.
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&& .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/...
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1750 PM Update... High pressure pushes east out into the Atlantic Friday night and deep SW return flow will bring moisture advection into the region on Saturday. Models have remained consistent with the 12Z cycle with PWATs progged to increase to 2"+, which is close to 3 standard deviations above normal for this time of year. Showers and embedded thunderstorms with torrential downpours will be likely with localized flash flooding possible. At this time, the severe thunderstorm potential appears low for Saturday afternoon, as ongoing rainfall and clouds over the area should limit instability. High pressure will build back into the region the start of next week with cooler and dry conditions expected. Previous discussion... Low pressure system tracks east and into our region on Saturday along with a warm front producing showers and thunderstorms. Deep SW return flow advects warm air and moisture into our region with PWAT values 2-3 standard deviations above normal. Model soundings also show a deep warm cloud layer up to 13K feet suggesting heavy downpours and localized flash flooding is possible. Cold front from this system will push through on Sunday with more showers and thunderstorms. Model guidance shows an additional wave dipping into our region on Monday, which could increase pops, but decided to stick with the NBM this far out. Otherwise upper level ridge moves into the region on Tuesday with drier conditions returning. Another system approaches our area by Wednesday with more possible showers. Temperatures during this period fluctuate with highs mostly ranging in the mid 70s to upper 80s and lows in the 60s. Temperatures will be slightly cooler on Monday behind the cold front with highs in the low to mid 70s and lows in the 50s.
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&& .AVIATION /18Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... VFR conditions will continue until 21 to 00z. Rain showers and embedded thunderstorms will move into the region late this afternoon. Strong thunderstorms will be possible at ELM, BGM, and AVP where strong wind gusts will be the main threat. Tempos were added for thunderstorms at these terminals for the best guess on timing, but additional adjustments may be needed as conditions evolve. There is less confidence for thunderstorms farther north. Visibilities and ceilings will fall as showers spread across the region. While there is some guidance hinting at IFR, conditions were capped at Fuel Alt for now. After the showers move out, patchy fog may be possible. While it cannot be ruled out at SYR and AVP, confidence was lower at those terminals. Heading into the late morning hours, some lingering MVFR ceilings will be possible as skies scatter out and improve to VFR. Winds become calmer overnight and direction will be variable at times. Winds pick back up by midday Thursday with gusts around 15 kts. Outlook... Friday...Mainly VFR. Saturday through Sunday...Restrictions from showers and thunderstorms possible. Monday...Mainly VFR. && .BGM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...None. NY...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...MJM NEAR TERM...BTL/MJM SHORT TERM...ES/MPK LONG TERM...ES/MPK AVIATION...BTL