Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Wilmington, NC

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720 FXUS62 KILM 191950 AFDILM Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wilmington NC 350 PM EDT Sun May 19 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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High pressure and drier air will move into the area to start off the work week. Temperatures warm through mid week with rain chances not returning until Friday into the weekend.
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&& .NEAR TERM /THROUGH MONDAY/...
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Other than the potential for lingering showers into the evening, mainly southern areas, the big question for the near term is when clouds will depart/dissipate. Forecast shows improving skies tonight into Monday but it should be noted that abundant moisture trapped below an inversion in the low levels could delay this process into Monday. Lows tonight should fall to the upper 50s to lower 60s with highs Monday in the upper 70s to lower 80s.
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&& .SHORT TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/...
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Dry weather continues for the duration of this period as sfc high pressure over the Carolinas gradually shifts east and offshore through the week, with weak mid-level ridging in place. This will allow for increasing temps each day...highs mainly in the low 80s Tuesday rising to around 90 by Thursday. Otherwise, expect daily sea breezes with skies averaging mostly sunny/clear.
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&& .LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...
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Low chances for rain return with shortwave energy passing through the fairly zonal flow aloft. Daily sea breeze will also aid in afternoon convection with a warm and moist airmass in place. PoPs are consistent each day (20-40%) with the fairly stagnant pattern in place. Some guidance (e.g. 12Z ECMWF) even keeps it dry most days with shortwave energy staying just off to the north. Temps remain slightly above normal with highs averaging in the mid/upr 80s.
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&& .AVIATION /19Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
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Stratus has spread to affect all terminals attm with cigs in the 1100 to 1800 ft range. This is up a little as daytime heating has risen ceilings a little. Guidance is insistent that cigs will rise to MVFR by late afternoon and vfr overnight into Monday as drier air works in from the NE. The forecast reflects this idea but there are caveats as abundant moisture was noted in AM soundings below an inversion, particularly MHX. Satellite shows low clouds all the way up to southern NY with few breaks attm, so it`s entirely possible that we may see another night of low cigs tonight. Additionally, some guidance is showing IFR/MVFR BR developing late tonight, particularly inland. Extended Outlook...VFR during the day on Monday. VFR should otherwise prevail with early morning vis or cig restrictions possible each day through the end of the period.
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&& .MARINE...
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Through Monday...Expect NE winds of 10 to 15 KT tonight and Monday with 20 KT possible nearer 20 NM on Monday. Seas will generally run 2 to 4 FT through the period, though 2 footers will be confined to areas sheltered from NE flow Monday. Monday Night through Friday...Sub-SCA conditions will continue. Sfc high pressure over the Carolinas slowly slides farther offshore through the week, with southerly flow becoming established Wednesday afternoon through Friday, no higher than 10-15 kt. After 2-4 ft seas Monday night, expect only 1-3 ft heights with a weak ESE 9-10 second swell component for the remainder of the week.
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&& .ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NC...None. SC...None. MARINE...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...ILM NEAR TERM...31 SHORT TERM...MAS LONG TERM...MAS AVIATION...31 MARINE...MAS/31