Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Charleston, WV

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753 FXUS61 KRLX 131001 AFDRLX AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Charleston WV 601 AM EDT Thu Jun 13 2024 .SYNOPSIS... High pressure keeps conditions warm and dry today. Chance for showers and isolated storms on Friday. Heat wave commences for the end of the week into at least the start of next week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
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As of 600 AM Thursday... No changes needed at this time. As of 120 AM Thursday... Any patchy valley fog mixes out shortly after daybreak this morning. Surface high pressure remains entrenched across much of the eastern half of the country. Weak high zonal flow aloft is yielding pretty paltry low level southwest flow with low level moisture slow to increase through the day as a result. Even with daytime highs rising to the upper 80s to lower 90 across the lower elevations, it won`t feel that oppressive yet with dew points still in the upper 50s/lower 60s. Couldn`t rule out a stray shower or thunderstorm near the mountains this afternoon, but just about everyone should stay dry until cold frontal passage Friday.
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&& .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... As of 315 AM Thursday... Eastward progression of an upper level trough with a developing cold front will open up the forecast period. Precipitation reaches our far northwestern zones Friday morning and drapes across the northern extent of the forecast area during peak heating hours. Should see enough destabilization in the midst of a warm and moist environment set in place over the Central Appalachians for convection out ahead of the front on Friday afternoon. Forecast soundings denote a moist low to mid level profile and favorable lapse rates to support strong to possibly severe storms during peak heating hours across north-central to northeast West Virginia, yielding the potential for isolated downbursts. Activity quickly wanes Friday evening as the front marches off the eastern seaboard. A dominating ridge pattern then takes center stage for the start of the weekend, with dry weather prevailing once more. This will eventually set into motion a heat wave later in the weekend into next week, but for Saturday post-frontal temperatures look to crest in the low 80s across the lowlands and 70s for the higher terrain. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... As of 315 AM Thursday... Key Points: * Heat wave stretches from Fathers Day into at least Wednesday, with heat indices reaching the upper 90s to near triple digit mark each afternoon. * Daily chances for afternoon shower/storm development along the mountains Monday through Wednesday. A building ridge establishing residency over the eastern half of the country spells the concern for heat impacts for an extended period of time beginning on Sunday. A combination of rising pressure heights and onshore flow will impose increasing temperatures and humidity, leading to afternoon heat index values stretching to concerning levels each day from Sunday into at least Wednesday. Afternoon highs in the lowlands range from the mid to upper 90s beginning on Fathers Day through the end of the forecast period, with burdensome humidity creating indices nearing the triple digit mark during the late afternoon and evening hours. The heat wave forges daily concern until the ridge eventually breaks down beyond midweek. Will continue to highlight the growing concern for heat-related impacts in the HWO, but do foresee headlines becoming warranted within the next few days. In addition to the heat, we will likely see the return of daily chances for afternoon showers and storms within this dirty ridge pattern. This will be most likely along the spine of the Appalachians and will be driven primarily by daytime heating. Activity is likely to be weak and slow movers in response to lack of upper level support and light mid to upper level flow. && .AVIATION /10Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
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As of 600 AM Thursday... Patchy valley fog near EKN/CKB/CRW/HTS mixes out early this morning, otherwise mostly clear skies through the period with light winds. Could see some additional patchy fog tonight, but chances too low to include at the end of the 12Z TAFs for now. FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY... FORECAST CONFIDENCE: High. ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Patchy river valley fog possible after 07Z tonight. 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 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 EDT 1HRLY 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 CRW CONSISTENCY L L H H H H H H H H H H HTS CONSISTENCY M M 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 L L H H H H H H H H H H PKB CONSISTENCY M M H H H H H H H H H H CKB CONSISTENCY M M H H H H H H H H H H AFTER 12Z FRIDAY... IFR valley fog possible Saturday morning.
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&& .RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WV...None. OH...None. KY...None. VA...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...JP/MEK NEAR TERM...JP SHORT TERM...MEK LONG TERM...MEK AVIATION...JP