Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Charleston, WV
Issued by NWS Charleston, WV
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194 FXUS61 KRLX 200128 AFDRLX AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Charleston WV 928 PM EDT Wed Jun 19 2024 .SYNOPSIS... The heat wave continues throughout the week courtesy of a broad upper level ridge. A cold front arrives late Sunday night into Monday, with showers and storms, and somewhat cooler weather. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 926 PM Wednesday... Adjusted hourly temperatures and dewpoints to better match latest surface observation trends. Added a little of more fog along the western foothills to cover EKN and CKB with dense fog overnight. Rest of forecast remains on track. As of 305 PM Wednesday... Forecast on track, including a record high temperatures set at EKN at 90 F so far, breaking the old record of 89 set in 1905. As of 200 PM Wednesday... Mid-upper level ridging across the area and beyond, oriented from west-southwest to east-northeast, and centered near NJ, continues the hot, dry weather. A weak short wave trough riding across the eastern Great Lakes and into the northeastern states, along the north-northwest side of the ridge, flattens it, eventuating the formation of a second center over the lower Ohio Valley on Thursday. The ridge should hold strong enough to keep afternoon convection associated with the short wave trough this afternoon, and another Thursday afternoon, just northwest of the forecast area in Ohio. Otherwise, high clouds associated with the first short wave trough are forecast to stream eastward with it, crossing the area through tonight, and then exiting the area on Thursday. Gradient low level south to southeast flow actually increases a bit tonight on the west side of surface high pressure, but should not impact the surface wind forecast much outside of ridges. Gradient flow then subsides on Thursday in a col between the high to the east, and another forming over the lower Ohio Valley. Drying associated with downslope flow this afternoon should be minimal Thursday given the lighter and more variable low level flow. Temperatures, dew points and apparent temperatures should be similar both afternoons, although middle Ohio Valley temperatures may be a notch or two higher Thursday with mid- upper level ridging more directly overhead. This may be enough to nudge apparent temperatures into the upper 90s there, otherwise mid 90s should cover it for the lowlands this and Thursday afternoon. Temperatures are forecast to come closest to record highs across our northern official climate sites PKB, CKB and EKN, this and Thursday afternoon, the latter for which the forecast calls for a record high there of 91, breaking the current record of 89 set in 1905, so long as high clouds do not increase there too much. Refer to the CLIMATE section below. && .SHORT TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... As of 206 PM Wednesday... 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. Although dew points will generally only be in the 60s during the period, the continuation of temperatures in the upper 90s to possibly even around 100, should warrant expansion of the heat advisory in time across much of the lowland counties through at least Saturday. An isolated severe storm is possible on Saturday, with a damaging wind threat. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... As of 1205 PM Wednesday... Ridge finally starts to break down on Sunday, as low pressure moves east across the Great Lakes region, eventually sweeping a cold front through the area at the start of the long term period. Showers and thunderstorms will become more numerous on Sunday with the approach of this system, and an isolated strong to severe storm cannot be ruled out Sunday and Sunday evening/night. Frontal boundary will move east of the area on Monday, for drier conditions, as well as a welcome reprieve from the oppressive heat. Weather beyond Monday is uncertain at this point, but general consensus at this point is to maintain mainly dry conditions. && .AVIATION /02Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... As of 736 PM Wednesday... High pressure surface and aloft will maintains dry weather conditions under light flow. Therefore, widespread VFR conditions expected through the period. The exception will at EKN and CKB where IFR dense fog may develop from 09Z through 12Z Thursday morning. Light and variable winds will become calm overnight, then light and variable on Thursday. Winds aloft will be light from the southwest into Thursday. FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY... FORECAST CONFIDENCE: High. ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Fog may not develop at CKB overnight tonight. Conversely, it may happen to a lesser extent than forecast at EKN. 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. DATE THU 06/20/24 UTC 1HRLY 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 EDT 1HRLY 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 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 L L M M 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 00Z FRIDAY... No widespread IFR conditions are expected at this time. && .CLIMATE... As of 300 PM Wednesday... A heat wave continues through the weekend. Temperatures are forecast to approach record highs at some locations on several days. The records for Wednesday, June 19 to Sunday, June 23 are listed below for our official climate sites, along with the current forecast values. Forecast / Record High Temperatures -------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday, 6/19 | Thursday, 6/20 | Friday, 6/21 | -------------------------------------------------------- CRW | 92 / 98 (1919) | 93 / 99 (1931) | 95 /105 (1931) | HTS | 93 / 98 (1994) | 94 /100 (1931) | 95 / 99 (1953) | CKB | 92 / 94 (1994) | 92 / 94 (1931) | 93 / 98 (1953) | PKB | 93 / 95 (1994) | 94 / 97 (1931) | 96 / 97 (1953) | BKW | 86 / 90 (1944) | 87 / 92 (1931) | 88 / 93 (1953) | EKN | 91 / 89 (1905) | 91 / 92 (1931) | 91 / 92 (1953) | -------------------------------------------------------- Saturday, 6/22 | Sunday, 6/23 | --------------------------------------- CRW | 97 / 98 (1988) | 94 /100 (1929) | HTS | 99 / 98 (1988) | 96 /100 (1930) | CKB | 96 / 97 (1923) | 92 / 96 (1957) | PKB | 98 / 98 (1988) | 93 / 94 (1964) | BKW | 92 / 92 (1931) | 89 / 91 (1931) | EKN | 94 / 93 (1923) | 90 / 89 (1899) | --------------------------------------- Additionally, the all-time June high temperature records may be neared in some locations. Listed below are the maximum temperatures currently forecast during the heat wave versus the all-time June high temperature records. Max Forecast All-time June Record ----------------------------------------- CRW | 97 | 105 (1931) | HTS | 99 | 105 (1930) | CKB | 96 | 100 (1925) | PKB | 98 | 100 (1988) | BKW | 92 | 100 (1936) | EKN | 94 | 96 (2012) | ----------------------------------------- && .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...TRM/ARJ SHORT TERM...SL LONG TERM...SL AVIATION...ARJ CLIMATE...TRM/JLB/GW