-- Discussion containing changed information from previous version are highlighted. --
019
FXUS62 KMHX 211947
AFDMHX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC
347 PM EDT Sat Sep 21 2024

.SYNOPSIS...
High pressure will ridge southwards across the Carolinas through
this weekend. Next potential frontal system doesn`t near ENC
until at least mid next week.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
-- Changed Discussion --
As of 330 PM Sat...Pleasant day to start our weekend out with
partly cloudy skies and widespread temps in the low 80s this
afternoon. Overall not much change in the forecast as upper
troughing tries to build in from the west while at the surface
ridging extends S`wards across the Carolinas through tonight. We
will see a weak mid level shortwave which is currently to the
north in the Mid-Atlantic dive S`wards as it begins to round the
base of a broader upper trough offshore tonight. Ongoing shower
and thunderstorm activity is associated with this shortwave
with this activity well to the north and west in Virginia today.
As we get into tonight the shortwave will approach ENC which
will allow the ongoing shower and tstm activity to approach the
Coastal Plain late tonight. WHile it will be on a weakening
trend give the time of day as it approaches a few showers may
sneak into the region after midnight with maybe a rumble of
thunder or two as well. Given this kept in SChc PoPs in the
forecast mainly along and to the north of Hwy 55.
-- End Changed Discussion --

&&

.SHORT TERM /SUNDAY/...
-- Changed Discussion --
As of 330 PM Sat... The aforementioned shortwave will be making
its way across ENC on Sunday which should help spark a few
isolated to widely scattered showers across the area. Continued
Schc PoPs with this update, opting to not go higher as we have a
lack of upper level support. Kept Tstorms out of the forecast
Sunday, as upper level subsidence keeps the mid levels very dry,
and it will be difficult for updrafts to punch through this dry
layer with CAPEs of only 500-1000 J/kg. Temps once again get
into the low 80s inland and upper 70s along the coast.
-- End Changed Discussion --

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...
-- Changed Discussion --
As of 330 PM Saturday...A slight chance of showers Sunday, then
ridging starts building in from the north as a low spins up
offshore to our northeast, gradually shifting further offshore
to our east. Seasonable temps through the period and dry Monday-
Tuesday evening. Rain chances increase mid to late week as
ridging could weaken and a low treks across the Ohio Valley and
Great Lakes region.

Monday-Tuesday:
Low offshore could produce high swell impacting OBX beaches
Monday-Tuesday. See TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING section for more
information.

High pressure centered over Maine and the Canadian Maritimes
has a ridge extending south over much of the east coast, keeping
us dry Monday and Tuesday. Seasonable temps with highs in the
low 80s inland, upper 70s to near 80 for beaches.

Wednesday-Friday:
Uncertainty increases a lot towards the middle and end of next
week, as multiple synoptic features will be at play and slight
deviations result in large changes with the forecast. While
ridging continues to spread over ENC from the north Wednesday, a
low pressure system forecasted to be over the Great Lakes will
have a cold front trailing from it extending down to the Gulf
coast. This cold front could stall to our west due to the
ridging over us, or the ridge weakens and gives way to the low,
or the front sweeps north of us around the high. In addition to
the parent low over the Great Lakes and ridge overhead, we will
be keeping an eye on a tropical system that could initiate in
the Gulf Coast next week. It is too soon to determine what
impacts, if any, we receive in ENC should this cyclone form. Due
to all this uncertainty, I opted to keep PoPs at Chc/Schc for
now through the remainder of the long term as a higher moisture
advection regime is more supportive of rain at the end of the
period.
-- End Changed Discussion --

&&

.AVIATION /20Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
SHORT TERM /through 18z Sunday/...
As of 115 PM Sat...

Pred VFR conditions and light winds are forecast through today
and at least early tonight across ENC as ridging aloft and at
the surface keeps the area dry and mostly cloud free today. As
we get into tonight a S`ward moving mid level shortwave will
change that, as showers and potentially a few iso tstms
associated with this shortwave will develop well to the north
and west of the area across central VA. This activity is then
forecast to progress SE into parts of NC by late tonight. The
activity is expected to be on a weakening trend, but could
impact portions of ENC after 06z tonight. Confidence is low
regarding whether or not this activity will make it this far
south and east, so I have continued to keep any mention of SHRA
and TSRA out of the TAFs, though a mention may be needed by this
evenings TAF`s if confidence increases. In addition to this not
expecting much in the way of fog tonight as high and mid level
clouds gradually make their way into the area as the shortwave
and its associated precipitation makes its way into the Coastal
Plain. As a result, keep a VFR TAF through tonight and into
Sunday while light winds eventually become S`rly on Sun as well.


LONG TERM /Sunday through Thursday/...
As of 4 AM Saturday...Pred VFR conditions expected through the
long term.

&&

.MARINE...
-- Changed Discussion --
SHORT TERM /Through Sunday/...
As of 330 PM Sat... High pressure ridging down into the
Carolinas will keep winds light across our waters with winds
generally persisting at 5-10 kts coming from a NE`rly direction
north of Cape Hatteras and becoming light and variable at times
south of Cape Hatteras through tonight. Winds will then
gradually increase from north to south Sun afternoon to 10-15
kts and become NE`rly across all our waters as a surface
boundary gradually makes its way across the area. Otherwise 4-6
ft seas are currently noted north of Ocracoke Inlet with 2-4 ft
seas south of Ocracoke Inlet. Seas are forecast to lower north
of Oregon Inlet tonight to 3-5 ft and as a result have shortened
the SCA advisory here to 06Z tonight, though will have to
reissue SCA`s tonight for the same area as seas are forecast to
then quickly come back up to 4- 7 ft by Sun night. Otherwise
ongoing SCA`s across our central waters will continue as 4-6 ft
seas will persist through Sun north of Ocracoke Inlet. SOuth of
Ocracoke inlet 2-4 ft seas will persist through the period.

LONG TERM /Sunday through Thursday/...
As of 415 AM Saturday...SCA In Effect through 6Z Tuesday for
coastal waters north of Ocracoke.

Sustained variable winds around 10 kt Sunday with ridging
building in, then around 15 kt Monday before dropping back down
to 5-10 kt and veering to become more easterly Tuesday and
Wednesday. SCA in effect for waters north of Ocracoke Inlet as
waves greater than or equal to 6 ft are expected from the low
offshore through early next week. Seas will be 2-6 ft Sunday,
and 2-7 ft Monday/Tuesday before dropping down to 2-6 ft
Wednesday the low offshore and somewhat gusty winds result in
higher swell. Waters off Crystal Coast and coastal Onslow will
be a bit protected from the more easterly swell courtesy of Cape
Lookout, and will be on the lower end of these wave height
ranges. OBX (particularly north of Hatteras) and the Gulf Stream
will not be protected and will see the higher values in the
ranges above.
-- End Changed Discussion --

&&

.TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
-- Changed Discussion --
As of 330 PM Sat... No real changes to the forecast thinking as
coastal flooding will continue to be a threat given the higher
than normal astronomical tide cycle through this weekend and
into Monday during high tide each day. Coastal Flood Advisories
remain in effect for all oceanside coastal areas into Monday
evenings high tide. Increased swell from a low offshore may
bring minor overwash concerns Tuesday and into midweek for the
OBX north of Cape Hatteras, although recent guidance has backed
off some on the strength of this offshore low, which may lessen
the risk of coastal impacts.
-- End Changed Discussion --

&&

.MHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
-- Changed Discussion --
NC...Coastal Flood Advisory until 2 AM EDT Tuesday for NCZ195-196-
     199-203>205.
     Beach Hazards Statement until 8 PM EDT this evening for NCZ203-
     205.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 2 AM EDT Sunday for AMZ150.
     Small Craft Advisory until 2 AM EDT Wednesday for AMZ152-154.
-- End Changed Discussion --

&&

$$
SYNOPSIS...MHX
NEAR TERM...RCF
SHORT TERM...RCF
LONG TERM...RJ
AVIATION...RCF/RJ
MARINE...RCF/RJ
TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...MHX