


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Wakefield, VA
Issued by NWS Wakefield, VA
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787 FXUS61 KAKQ 170213 AFDAKQ AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Wakefield VA 1013 PM EDT Mon Jun 16 2025 .SYNOPSIS... A frontal boundary will remain nearly stationary along the Virginia North Carolina border tonight, before washing out across the area on Tuesday. An upper level ridge expands northward Wednesday, leading to hot weather with lower rain chances Wednesday, followed by hot conditions Thursday, with scattered showers and storms as the next cold front approaches. Mainly dry for the upcoming weekend. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 1000 PM EDT Monday... Key Messages: - The Flood Watch has been cancelled. - Warmer Tuesday with highs into the mid to upper 80s for most of the area. A few strong storms possible across the NW late. This evening, the frontal boundary has settled just south of the forecast area (near the Albemarle Sound) and extends back into western portions of the state. Low clouds and areas of light rain/drizzle continues north of the boundary, with temperatures ranging from the 60s across northern portions of the area and the Eastern Shore, with 70s for the rest of the area. With the front now south of the area, the heavy rain threat has largely come to an end, thus the Flood Watch has been cancelled across northeast NC. Significant rainfall fell earlier today across portions of the northeast NC, with pockets of 2-3+". Otherwise, a few showers will be possible overnight, even to the north, but rainfall amounts will generally be light. Some patchy fog/low stratus is likely early Tuesday morning, but do not expect widespread dense fog. Lows will range from the mid 60s N to the lower 70s S. Tuesday will tend to begin with low clouds, and possibly patchy drizzle, but upper level heights are forecast to rise, as the next trough approaches from the OH/TN Valley, and the upper ridge across Florida expands N. This should lead to increasing amounts of sunshine by late morning/early aftn, allowing highs to rise into the mid to upper 80s by later aftn (upper 70s to lower 80s eastern shore). By late aftn, another shortwave, this one a bit stronger, is expected to approach from the west, and with decent instability parameters developing (at least well inland), some showers/storms will be possible, mainly after 3 PM. Shear values are not impressive (20-30 kt at best), but mid level lapse rates are a bit better than the past several days and may compensate for the lack of shear. The primary threat from any severe storm is damaging winds, with the threat mostly limited to the nrn piedmont. SPC maintains a Marginal Risk for severe weather in this area. && .SHORT TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 355 PM EDT Monday... Key Messages: - Hot and humid Wed and Thursday, with heat headlines possible in the SE. - Severe Tstms possible late Thursday. Aside from a few showers/storms late in the day Wed, conditions should be mainly dry. With upper level ridging expands north towards the region, summerlike heat is expected with highs rising into the low-mid 90s for most of the area.Given the pattern, and with the recent wet spell, have kept high temperatures both Wed and Thursday on the cooler edge of guidance, but with dew pts at or slightly higher than MOS numbers. Expect heat indices to peak around 105F in the SE (where Heat headlines may be needed), to the upper 90s to ~103F elsewhere. Given the high heat and humidity, ample instability is expected along and ahead of a cold front. In addition, model mid level lapse rates are currently showing values >6C/Km, along with bulk shear values of 30-40kt. SPC has most of the region in a Day 4 15% Risk (slight), and this would be mainly for wind, though large hail will be possible as well. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/... As of 400 PM EDT Monday... Key Message: Scattered showers/strong storms possible Thu evening, followed by dry weather for Fri, probably lasting through the weekend. While the NBM does not have any rain chances, there could be a few storms Sat night/early Sunday across mainly NE sections of the FA as both the GFS/ECMWF and ensembles are showing a shortwave diving SSE from the Great Lakes (will continue to monitor this over the next few days). Beyond that, there is good model consensus that an upper level trough locks in place over the NW CONUS, with a strong upper ridge across the central and eastern CONUS. Some of the models depict 500 mb heights rising to nearly 600 dm. The period next week looks quite hot for a prolonged period given this setup. Humidity level might be slightly lower given this ridge being more of continental origin, though with the recent wet spell, this is uncertain. && .AVIATION /02Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 755 PM EDT Monday... Any localized MVFR CIGs (PHF/ECG) fall back to IFR over the next couple of hours, with IFR CIGs continuing at the remaining sites. Widespread IFR/LIFR CIGs at all sites later tonight into early Tuesday morning. In addition to the low CIGs, patchy fog/drizzle will also be possible, reducing VSBYs to MVFR or IFR at times. Conditions begin to improve later Tuesday morning, with CIGs becoming MVFR ~14-15z. VFR CIGs will be possible late in the forecast period (after 18z). Widely scattered afternoon/evening showers and thunderstorms are possible which may lead to localized restrictions. Outlook: Primarily VFR conditions are expected (outside of patchy AM fog in the typical spots) Tuesday night into Thursday. A cold front approaches Thursday afternoon/evening, potentially bringing another round of shower and thunderstorms. Dry/VFR conditions then return Friday into Saturday. && .MARINE... As of 330 PM EDT Monday... Key Message: - Relatively benign across the marine area through midweek outside of convection. A quasi-stationary front was located along the southern border of the forecast area as of afternoon analysis. It will remain near southern reaches of the area through tomorrow before lifting N as a warm front once again. Latest obs indicate E/NE flow at 5-10kt. Buoy obs show seas of 2-4ft with highest seas off the Eastern Shore. Waves in the bay and river are 1-2ft. Onshore flow at 5-10kt continues tonight and through tomorrow, becoming SE tomorrow afternoon. Scattered convection tomorrow afternoon/evening may lead to isolated instances of elevated winds/waves. Winds become S, then SW Tues night into Wednesday. Seas will be 2-3ft and waves generally 1ft or less (higher in mouth of bay). Expecting breezier conditions Wed into Thurs ahead of a cold front. SW winds of ~15kt expected Wed, then increasing slightly heading into Thurs as the front gets closer. SCAs may be needed late Wed night through Thurs evening- best chance is for the lower bay and James River. && .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... Onshore flow over the last couple of days has led to slightly elevated tidal anomalies, particularly in the upper bay and tidal portions of the Rappahannock/Potomac. While the upcoming high tide should be lower than the this morning`s tide, there could still be some lingering nuisance flooding. A Coastal Flood Statement was issued for the upper Rappahannock River (Tappahannock gage) where level may near the minor flood threshold this evening. && .AKQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...None. NC...None. VA...None. MARINE...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...LKB NEAR TERM...AJB/LKB SHORT TERM...LKB LONG TERM...KMC/LKB AVIATION...AJB/LKB MARINE...AC/MAM TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...