Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Charleston, WV

Current Version |  Previous Version |  Text Only |  Print | Product List |  Glossary On
Versions: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
-- Remove Highlighting --
-- Discussion containing changed information from previous version are highlighted. --
721 FXUS61 KRLX 211858 AFDRLX AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Charleston WV 258 PM EDT Fri Jun 21 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
-- Changed Discussion --
The heat wave continues into the weekend courtesy of a broad upper level ridge. A cold front crosses Sunday night, bringing showers and storms to the area, and an end to the heat wave.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 110 PM Friday... Ridge of high pressure will continue to remain in control through Saturday, with above normal temperatures, and occasional showers and storms during peak heating hours. Showers and storms this afternoon/evening will mainly fire up along the mountains, and across the north as a weak boundary sags south towards the area. Severe is not anticipated at this time, but storms will be slow to move with brief heavy downpours. Bulk of storms should dissipate this evening with loss of heating, but there could still be an isolated shower or storm overnight from any passing weak wave. Otherwise, hot again on Saturday, with additional showers and storms particularly during peak heating hours. Fog possible again in favored river valleys Saturday morning. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
-- Changed Discussion --
As of 255 PM Friday... The upper level ridge associated with the current heat wave gets shunted off to the deep south/southwestern U.S. this weekend, as a mid-upper level short wave trough approaches. Increasing forcing and modest 0-6 km bulk shear of 20-30kts acting on the afternoon instability amid the hot, humid air mass, with CAPE building to 2-3 KJ/kg in an axis ahead of the front, leads to the potential for strong to marginally severe thunderstorms Sunday afternoon and evening across the lowlands. The severe threat decreases as convection crosses the mountains overnight Sunday night, as instability decreases. Showers and thunderstorms will have modest motion so, while PW values up around two inches could result in locally excessive downpours, widespread high water instances are not expected. Central guidance evinces a very arm and humid Saturday night, with rising temperatures on Sunday intercepted by increasing clouds and developing convection, soon enough to preclude extending the heat advisory into Sunday. Lows Monday morning will be perceptibly lower across northwest portions of the forecast area, slightly lower southeast, compared with Sunday morning.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
-- Changed Discussion --
As of 255 PM Friday... A cold front exits the forecast area Monday morning, bringing an end to the prolonged heat wave. Its trailing positively-tilted short wave trough, extending southwestward from a mid-upper level low crossing northern New York and New England Monday, crosses Monday morning and midday. Showers will be limited to the mountains by dawn Monday, where there may still also be a thunderstorm, depending upon the timing of the front. This precipitation will gradually dissipate during the day, with little if any opportunity for a diurnal resurgence, as cooler and much drier air advects in beneath the crossing short wave trough, with a strong post- frontal/subsidence inversion. High pressure builds in Monday afternoon, crosses Monday night, and then exits Tuesday morning. This will bring about a clear, comfortably cool night Monday night, with calm conditions allowing valley fog to form. The upper level ridge associated with the current heat wave remains shunted off to the deep south/southwestern U.S. next week, allowing west to northwest mid-upper level flow with embedded short wave troughs/convective complexes over the area. With low level south to southwest gradient flow behind the exiting high feeding increasing warmth and moisture back into the area, showers and thunderstorms become possible Tuesday night, and then remain so until a deep enough short wave trough pushes a cold front through the area Wednesday night or Thursday. Central guidance reflects temperatures and dew points lower by several degrees compared with those during the current heat wave, but enough to bring perceptible relief. The heat returns Tuesday and Wednesday of next week as heights rebuild, but with the ridging off to the southwest of the area, it will not be as hot as this week. The heat will also be not as persistent, given the passage of cold front later in the week.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .AVIATION /18Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
-- Changed Discussion --
As of 115 PM Friday... Isolated showers and storms through 02Z across the higher terrain and possibly SE Ohio and north central WV, with brief MVFR conditions. Otherwise, VFR area wide with light surface winds, except for patchy MVFR/IFR or worse valley fog generally 08-12Z. FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY... FORECAST CONFIDENCE: High. ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Coverage and density of valley fog Saturday morning may differ from forecast. More coverage of storms may occur this afternoon than currently forecast. 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 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 EDT 1HRLY 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 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 M 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... No widespread IFR conditions are expected at this time.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WV...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT Saturday for WVZ005>011-013>020- 024>032-039-040. OH...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT Saturday for OHZ066-067-075-076- 083>087. KY...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT Saturday for KYZ101>103-105. VA...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...TRM/SL NEAR TERM...SL SHORT TERM...TRM LONG TERM...TRM AVIATION...SL