912
FXUS61 KRLX 281846
AFDRLX

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Charleston WV
246 PM EDT Fri Jun 28 2024

.SYNOPSIS...
Warm and increasingly humid today with isolated afternoon storm
potential. Severe storms and heavy rain possible Saturday. Cold
front crosses Sunday. Dry start to the work week, becoming hot.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/...
As of 110 PM Friday...

Key Point:
* Severe storms and heavy downpours possible Saturday afternoon
  and evening.

While most of the area should remain dry, a few showers or storms
could sneak into the southern part of the CWA this afternoon. A
frontal boundary is then expected to lift up through the area
as a low migrates across the northern US and southern Ontario
late today into tonight. The passage of this front could bring
additional precipitation into the area overnight before the low
continues northeast and directs a cold front towards the area
on Saturday.

Models point towards a break in activity early Saturday, then
chances of showers and storms increase for the afternoon and
evening as warm, moist air flows into the area ahead of the
approaching cold front. Model soundings project moderate to
strong instability develops by late afternoon, along with
around 30+ kts of shear, and DCAPE values in the vicinity of
1000 J/kg. The best potential for isolated to scattered severe
storms is expected to be in the late afternoon through the
evening. While damaging winds will be the primary concern, there
is also a non-zero risk for tornadoes or hail.

Heavy downpours should also accompany storms as precipitable
water values reach 1.5 to 2 inches. Widespread flooding is not
anticipated; however, poor drainage areas or locations impacted
by multiple storms could experience a localized high water issue
or two.

Temperatures for tonight are expected to be warm, with lows
remaining in the 60s to mid 70s. Highs for Saturday rise back
towards mid 80s to low 90s in the lowlands and 70s to mid 80s
along the mountains.

&&

.SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/...
As of 245 PM Friday...

Aforementioned storms in the near term period persist into the
second half of the weekend in response to continued passing of a
cold front. While severe weather tapers down at the start of the
short term, lingering showers and storms prevail overnight
Saturday into Sunday morning, before finally clearing from west
to east as the front completes its passage.

This sets the stage for the return of high pressure to return
late in the evening Sunday and into the new work week. Upper
level ridging aloft will nestle into the heart of the country
and provide strong subsidence for the forecast area on Monday,
with temperatures in the wake of the front dropping into the
70s. This will be short-lived, however, as height rises promote
warming temperatures back into the 80s and 90s for the majority
of the work week.

&&

.LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
As of 245 PM Friday...

High pressure and resultant dry weather continues to prevail on
Tuesday with afternoon highs once again nearing the 90 degree
mark. The upper level ridge begins to break down late Tuesday
night into midweek as a surface low sails down from Canada,
skimming portions of the Great Lakes region and down into the
western Ohio Valley Wednesday afternoon. This will eventually
track into the forecast area late in the evening Wednesday into
Thursday morning with the passage of a cold front. How quickly
this front slips through the region may impact outdoor holiday
plans for the 4th. Current projections suggest this boundary
hanging tight along the Central Appalachians, with additional
waves meandering along the front through the end of the work
week to maintain at least light POPs beyond the valid forecast
period.

Daytime temperatures remain up in the 80s/90s through the work
week, with very little reprieve in the foreseeable future.

&&

.AVIATION /19Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
As of 110 PM Friday...

VFR is expected to persist into tonight, with scattered to
broken clouds drifting overhead. An isolated shower or storm
could pop up in the vicinity of BKW this afternoon and evening.
Clouds are expected to increase and some additional
precipitation could be possible as a boundary lifts through
overnight. A cold front approaches from the west on Saturday.
While VFR is expected for the morning, flight conditions are
likely to deteriorate in storms and heavy rain during the
afternoon and evening.

South to southwest flow is expected through the TAF period,
with occasional gusts into the 15-20kt range along the mountains
this afternoon. 5-12kt flow should persist overnight, then
gusts may pick back up during the day Saturday. Even stronger
wind gusts will be possible within storms.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY...

FORECAST CONFIDENCE: High.

ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: LLWS could be possible in some locations
overnight.

EXPERIMENTAL TABLE OF FLIGHT CATEGORY OBJECTIVELY SHOWS CONSISTENCY
OF WFO FORECAST TO AVAILABLE MODEL INFORMATION:
H = HIGH:   TAF CONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL.
M = MEDIUM: TAF HAS VARYING LEVEL OF CONSISTENCY WITH MODELS.
L = LOW:    TAF INCONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL.

UTC 1HRLY       18   19   20   21   22   23   00   01   02   03   04   05
EDT 1HRLY       14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   00   01
CRW CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
HTS CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
BKW CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
EKN CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
PKB CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
CKB CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H

AFTER 18Z SATURDAY...
Brief IFR possible with thunderstorms Saturday and Sunday.

&&

.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...None.
OH...None.
KY...None.
VA...None.

&&

$$

SYNOPSIS...MEK/JLB
NEAR TERM...JLB
SHORT TERM...MEK
LONG TERM...MEK
AVIATION...JLB