Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Wilmington, NC

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086 FXUS62 KILM 191039 AFDILM Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wilmington NC 639 AM EDT Wed Jun 19 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Seasonably warm conditions will continue for the next few days as high pressure sits well offshore. A warming trend begins late in the week with afternoon showers and thunderstorms for the weekend. Heat indices may reach the triple digits over the weekend. Onshore flow will bring more humid conditions by the beginning of next week with a better chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Region remains under the influence of ridging aloft and at the surface. The center of the 5h ridge has shifted north of the area while the elongated surface ridge axis has been slowly drifting south. Impressive subsidence inversion once again in place today and tonight will keep the region dry. Slight uptick in moisture at the top of the mixed layer, basically trapped at the bottom of the subsidence inversion, may lead to some scattered flat clouds, but skies will still be in the mostly sunny realm. Highs will be similar to Tue with coastal areas ranging from mid 80s to lower 90s well inland - near to slightly below climo. Lows will also run near to slightly below climo, with typical cool spots managing to radiate well given the atypically dry boundary layer. && .SHORT TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... Subsidence will persist across most of the area through end of the week with upper ridge centered just to the west and low level ridge centered to the north-northeast. Dry, sunny, and seasonable on Thursday, with below normal temps in the mid 60s (away from the coast) Thursday night. A trough is forecasted to move inland near GA/SC border early Friday, with the majority of the moisture remaining well south of the area. There is a low chance of thunderstorms during the day Friday across southern parts of the CWA (Georgetown, Williamsburg, and possibly Horry) where the subsidence inversion appears to be weaker. Temperatures will be a few degrees warmer Friday and Friday night. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... Ridging influence begins to weaken on Saturday as centers of both the upper and low level ridges shift further away. Model soundings still show a bit of a subsidence inversion present during the day Saturday that will hinder diurnal convection, with low chances again present across coastal NE SC. Saturday kicks continues the warming trend as low level WAA strengthens around Bermuda high, with highs in the mid 90s away from the coast. Return flow and accompanying WAA and moisture advection continues Sunday into early next week, with afternoon storms possible with a focus on sea breeze and Piedmont trough. Above normal temps during the day and night Sunday through Tuesday. Ensemble data shows a 15-20% chance high temps inland could reach 100F Sunday and Monday. Combined with elevated dewpoints both days, most of the CWA is in a moderate to major heat risk category. Warm weather with diurnal convection continues Tuesday, though perhaps to a lesser extent as a dissipating front looks to make its way into the area. && .AVIATION /10Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
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VFR continues. Once again mid-level subsidence will the keep terminals dry. Easterly flow the next 24 hours with gusts around 20 kt developing mid-morning and persisting into the evening. Possible SCT/BKN ceilings around 3k ft overnight along the coast, but confidence on below 3k vs above 3k ft is low. Extended Outlook...VFR continues.
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&& .MARINE... Through Tonight...Extended period of onshore flow continues today with east-northeast winds on the low end of the 15-20 kt range this morning gradually increasing in the afternoon. Prolonged onshore flow will maintain seas 4-5 ft this morning with widespread 5 ft and an isolated 6 ft possible in the afternoon. No plans for an SCA at this juncture with seas AOA 6 ft limited both spatially and temporally. Winds start to ease a bit this evening, allowing for a subtle decrease in seas overnight. An easterly wave 4-5 ft around 7 seconds will be dominant. Thursday through Sunday...Easterly onshore flow persists Thursday and Friday with surface high pressure centered to the northeast. Winds 15-20 kts Thursday with seas 4-5 ft (9 sec E swell) will improve a bit Friday as the easterly fetch is disrupted with a trough moving inland near the GA/SC border well south of the area. Winds turn southerly Saturday afternoon, with south-southwest winds continuing into early next week around Bermuda high pressure. Seas 2- 3 ft for the upcoming weekend, combination of weakening E swell and S wind chop. Overnight showers and isolated thunderstorms possible over the coastal waters each night (Thursday night through the weekend). && .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... Other - Rip Currents: A building easterly swell and upcoming full moon will maintain an elevated rip current risk for east and southeast facing beaches in our area through (at least) the end of the week. A high risk of rip currents is in effect today for Pender, New Hanover and Georgetown county beaches, as well as Myrtle Beach southward in Horry, with high rip risk potentially continuing through Friday. The south facing beaches of Brunswick county (east of Ocean Isle) will likely have strong east to west longshore currents these days due to easterly swell and winds versus strong rip currents. The area in between the two, from north of Myrtle Beach to Ocean Isle Beach, will have a combination of moderate rip current risk and moderate to strong NE to SW longshore current the next couple of days. && .ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NC...High Risk for Rip Currents through this evening for NCZ106-108. Beach Hazards Statement through this evening for NCZ110. SC...High Risk for Rip Currents through this evening for SCZ054-056. MARINE...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...ILM NEAR TERM...III SHORT TERM...VAO LONG TERM...VAO AVIATION...III MARINE...III/VAO TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...VAO