Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Blacksburg, VA

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256 FXUS61 KRNK 121744 AFDRNK Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 144 PM EDT Wed Jun 12 2024 .SYNOPSIS... High pressure will maintain its presence over the area into Thursday. A backdoor front tracks south through the mid-Atlantic Friday, before high pressure works in again for the weekend. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 109 PM EDT Wednesday... Key Message: 1) Mix of sun and clouds this afternoon. A sprinkle possible in the mountains. 2) Mainly dry but cannot rule out isolated mountain convection Thu afternoon. Expect a couple of weak impulses to keep some clouds around at times through the day. 12z RNK sounding showed higher RH in the 850-700 mb range with a pwat of 0.77". Some of the high res models are trying to pop up some showers along the ridges this afternoon, but expecting little if any coverage. Added a token sprinkle or light shower here and there but generally will be dry and seasonably warm this afternoon. Clouds will stay mixed across the sky into tonight and should be a little milder, temperatures slipping into the mid 50s to lower 60s west to east. Could start to see patchy fog across river bottoms toward dawn. Another shortwave/vort tracks across Thursday. Enough low level moisture should be available to trigger some isolated convection along/west of the Blue Ridge, but appears only a couple of high-res solutions are hinting at this. Given the heating and environment, leaning toward a few showers/storms popping up but majority of you will remain dry. Temperatures start to warm a bit reaching the 80s for most of the area, with some 70s in the higher mountains. Forecast confidence is average on pops/sky cover, but above average on temps/winds. && .SHORT TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/...
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As of 115 PM EDT Wednesday... Key Message: 1) Warm and mostly dry weather expected. Heights will build by the end of the week within an overall westerly flow. A shortwave passing through the Great Lakes will push a front south late Friday and will see slightly cooler temperatures again Saturday. Friday likely to feature plenty of low 90s across the Piedmont as 850mb temperatures range +18C to +20C ahead of an approaching front dropping south out of the Ohio Valley. Not overly concerned with high indices at this time owing to the fact that dew points will not be particularly high. With plenty of daytime heating, should have at least some marginal instability, resulting in a few scattered afternoon thunderstorms, mainly across the mountains. Slightly cooler air behind the front as high pressure builds to the north on Saturday. However, still expecting highs in the mid/upper 80s.
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&& .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
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As of 130 PM EDT Wednesday... Key Messages: 1) Showers and storm chances increase through mid-week. 2) Hot and humid by mid-week Ridging begins to build over the southeast late in the weekend into early next week as high pressure slides offshore. Ridging will continue to build into Tuesday/Wednesday. Guidance is in fairly decent agreement of the 594dm ridge firmly anchoring in place through the end of the long term period. With high pressure east in the Atlantic, flow remains southerly and should have higher moisture advection into the area as well. This will drive dew points up, along with the chance of afternoon thunderstorms.
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&& .AVIATION /18Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... As of 115 PM EDT Wednesday... Mainly VFR expected through the period. Expect potential IFR fog at LWB by 10-12z Thu. Forecast confidence is high. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK... VFR anticipated through Sunday. Except could be some storms Friday into Friday evening that may bring sub-VFR especially north of a line from BKW-ROA-LYH. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...SH/WP NEAR TERM...WP SHORT TERM...BMG LONG TERM...BMG AVIATION...SH/WP