Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Wilmington, NC

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868 FXUS62 KILM 231758 AFDILM Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wilmington NC 158 PM EDT Sun Jun 23 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Typical summertime diurnally driven convection expected today and thru much of the upcoming work week. In addition, hot and humid conditions to occur during the work-week that may require heat advisories. Remnants of a tropical wave will move along the Carolina Coasts today, enhancing the convection potential and coverage across the area. A weak cold frontal passage Mon night will also enhance the convection ahead of it. Some temporary relief from the heat expected Tue. && .UPDATE...
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Isolated showers over the area currently with scattered mid- level cumulus, lower-level clouds at the coast. Updated aviation discussion below.
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&& .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Generally troffiness aloft will allow the remnants of a tropical disturbance/wave move NE along the Carolina Coasts this period. This will enhance the cloud cover and the diurnally driven convection across the area with POPs in the 25 to 40 percent range across the ILM CWA today and holding onto a low chance for the evening dependent on the status of the tropical remnants. May need to carry a POP along the immediate coast into the pre-dawn Mon hrs. Expect more cloud coverage then Sat, combined with convection, this will likely hold down max temps a bit lower than what occurred Sat. With the end result, combined with RH, heat indices along with heat risk today to remain below heat advisory issuance levels. Tonights lows will likely see widespread 70s across the FA, with 80 degree readings not out of the question along the immediate coast given active winds off the ocean exhibiting 80+ degree SSTs. && .SHORT TERM /MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/... Monday will feature an uptick of convective coverage and strength. The former will be due to height falls in northwest flow around a trough developing in the Northeastern U.S. in addition to a surface trough and front approaching from the NW. The latter will be an increased depth of very steep low level lapse rates generating what may end up being considerable instability. Fortunately wind shear values appear too weak to support any level of organization to the convection, but it may be time to start considering the possibility of isolated microbursts. Tuesday should then quiet back down as the lapse rates steepen and the NW flow advects mid level dry air that drops PW values from 2 inches to one inch as the mid level trough pushes a front through Monday night. Monday afternoon will require a heat advisory for part of the inland areas whereas Tuesday`s lowered dewpoints will preclude one. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... Tuesday`s moisture drop off will be short-lived as the weakening front lifts back to our north and dissipates. The Piedmont trough will redevelop Wed as the afternoon turns quite hot though dewpoints may preclude an advisory. This heat and then increased humidity Thursday will likely require an advisory for inland locales. A shortwave and surface trough impinge from the NW on Thursday but model guidance is in pretty good agreement that both are too weak to lead to appreciable rain chances. The agreement in the next front isn`t as good and given the antecedent ridge the farther north solutions seem more plausible, likely continuing near advisory-worth heat and humidity while convective coverage hovers around a fairly seasonable 30 percent. && .AVIATION /18Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
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Isolated showers expected to continue through the day with perhaps a stray rumble of thunder. What`s out there is pretty slow- moving but haven`t seen any solid restrictions yet. Cu is around 5kft with lower level clouds near the coastal terminals ~1.5-3 kft. These are occasionally filling in to BKN but only briefly. Have lower clouds sticking around a bit overnight but coverage looks to be the issue. Otherwise should be mostly dry with predominant VFR through the latter half of the TAF period until rain chances pick up again towards Mon aftn. Extended Outlook... VFR to prevail outside of the periodic MVFR/IFR from diurnally-induced showers/storms and morning low clouds/fog.
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&& .MARINE... Through Tonight...The sfc pg will tighten today as the remnants of a tropical wave/disturbance move along the Carolina Coasts. Look for S to SW winds to increase to 15 to 20 kt during today and continuing thru tonight, along with a few gusts to 25 kt possible tonight. Seas 2 to 4 ft today increasing to 3 to 5 ft tonight. Seas will be dominated by the relatively locally produced southerly wave at 4+ second periods. Monday through Thursday Night...Winds will be out of the southwest on Monday before a nighttime frontal passage leads to veering while winds and seas both decrease from their near- advisory criteria. Flow starts backing again late Tuesday as the front lifts back to the north again in a weakening state. Southerly flow returns but with fairly light speeds. Swell energy will largely stay to our east meaning the dominant wave through most of the long term will be a shorter period wind wave. && .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... Other - Rip Currents: A high risk of rip currents possible for the Brunswick County and Northern Horry County Beaches for Mon with a gradually decreasing risk of rip currents Tue and Wed for all county beaches. For today, a strong south to north longshore current expected across Pender and New Hanover County Beaches. This may need to be expanded to other county beaches for Mon as modest SSW to SW winds continue, possibly increasing ahead of an approaching cold front. && .ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NC...Beach Hazards Statement until 8 PM EDT this evening for NCZ106- 108. SC...None. MARINE...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...ILM UPDATE...LEW NEAR TERM...DCH SHORT TERM...MBB LONG TERM...MBB AVIATION...LEW MARINE...DCH/MBB TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...