Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Sterling, VA

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506 FXUS61 KLWX 010119 AFDLWX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 919 PM EDT Fri May 31 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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High pressure will build across the area overnight and Saturday before sliding offshore Sunday. Dry conditions and below normal temperatures will continue as a result into the start of the weekend. Temperatures start to warm with increasing shower and thunderstorm chances Sunday into the middle part of next week.
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&& .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SATURDAY MORNING/...
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A large Canadian area of high pressure will build into the region overnight. Comfortable humidity will be ushered in on a light northwest flow. Temperatures will be cooler than average with lows in the middle to upper 40s mainly along and west of the Blue Ridge and low to mid 50s further east.
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&& .SHORT TERM /6 AM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
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Previous discussion... Low humidity and dry conditions will continue into the start of the weekend as high pressure pushes toward the Mid-Atlantic coast. The high eventually heads offshore Saturday night into Sunday as a weak area of low pressure approaches from the Ohio River Valley. This will allow for increasing clouds across the area along with renewed chances for scattered showers and thunderstorms mainly west of the Blue Ridge Sunday late morning and into the evening hours. High temperatures Saturday will be a touch warmer in the upper 70s and lower 80s. Winds will turn to the south while remaining light as high pressure pushes towards the coast. Skies will remain mostly sunny with just some high cirrus floating through. Low level moisture increases Saturday night into Sunday morning leading to added cloud cover and perhaps a few showers west of the Allegheny Front as weak low pressure pushes east from the Ohio River Valley. Lows Saturday night will fall back into the mid 50s to low 60s for most of the area outside the mountains. By Sunday, upper level ridging begins to flatten with high pressure just offshore. Zonal flow will develop aloft allowing for the progression of several shortwave disturbances eastward into the region. This will lead to isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms mainly west of the Blue Ridge early in the day before spreading east toward the metros late in the afternoon. Storms should be sub-severe although some gusty winds and hail cannot be ruled out. Winds will will switch to the southwest with gusts up to 20 mph ushering in warmer temperatures in the upper 70s and low to mid 80s. Humidity will also increase as well. Any convection will wane after sunset Sunday with quieter conditions expected due to upper level ridging nearby. Lows Sunday night will fall back into the upper 50s and low to mid 60s.
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&& .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... A closed upper low will be exiting the area Monday afternoon with upper ridging forecast to build in during the middle portion of next week. Dry conditions are expected Monday and Tuesday. A large cyclonic circulation over south central Canada will dive southeastward toward the Great Lakes during the second half of next week pushing a cold front into the area during the Thu-Thu night frame. Expect an increase in shower and thunderstorms Wednesday into Thursday. Shear and instability do not look particularly strong enough at this time to support a significant severe wx threat. && .AVIATION /01Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
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VFR conditions are expected through Saturday. Winds will become light and variable Saturday morning before switching to the south Saturday afternoon and at night as high pressure gradually pushes offshore. Skies will remain mostly sunny to clear with high cirrus likely returning to western terminals Saturday afternoon. More widespread mid and high level cloud cover returns late Saturday night into Sunday morning. Even with that said, VFR conditions should prevail. VFR conditions are expected Sunday with high pressure just offshore. A slight chance for a few thunderstorms is possible mainly at terminals along and west of a line from KMRB down to KCHO. Some restrictions are possible in and around any thunderstorm activity that may form. Prevailing VFR conditions are expected on both Monday and Tuesday. Winds will be light out of the north to northwest on Monday, and light out of the southeast on Tuesday. Higher chances for more widespread restrictions from shower and thunderstorm activity are possible during the afternoon and evening hours Wednesday through Thursday as multiple pieces of shortwave energy push through. Highest chances for thunderstorms will be at terminals west of a line from KHGR/KMRB/KIAD/KDCA south toward KCHO and KLYH.
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&& .MARINE...
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Wind will diminish overnight to sub-SCA conditions. Sub- SCA level winds are expected through early Sunday morning as high pressure remains nearby. Winds will become light and variable tonight before switching to the south Saturday afternoon. Sub-SCA level winds are expected Sunday into Monday. South to southeasterly winds return Sunday as high pressure pushes off the southeast U.S coast. An isolated shower or thunderstorm cannot be ruled out due to the bay breeze Sunday afternoon/evening. Better chances for showers and thunderstorms exists Monday through Wednesday as multiple disturbances pass through. Cannot completely rule out the need for a Special Marine Warning for any strong storms that cross the waters during that period.
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&& .LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
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DC...None. MD...None. VA...None. WV...None. MARINE...None.
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&& $$ SYNOPSIS...EST NEAR TERM...KLW/EST SHORT TERM...EST LONG TERM...LFR AVIATION...LFR/KLW MARINE...LFR/KLW