


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Burlington, VT
Issued by NWS Burlington, VT
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615 FXUS61 KBTV 180203 AFDBTV Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Burlington VT 1003 PM EDT Tue Jun 17 2025 .SYNOPSIS... Heat will continue to increase through Thursday with daily chances of afternoon thunderstorms and periods of moderate to heavy rain showers. A cold front moving through the region on Thursday will bring increased chances of stronger storms that could produce damaging winds and downpours potentially leading to localized flash flooding. Unsettled conditions will linger into the weekend before high pressure builds over the eastern U.S. bringing the potential for dangerous heat next week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 956 PM EDT Tuesday...Have taken down the Lake Wind Advisory with this evening update as wind gusts have dropped to 20 knots at Colchester Reef and 19 knots at Diamond Island as of 940 PM. Winds over the Lake will only gradually diminish through the remainder of the night. As the pressure gradient decreases through the day Wednesday, expect wind gusts to continue to diminish Wednesday. Otherwise, remainder of the night will be quiet with some increasing chances for showers over southern counties towards Wednesday morning. Previous discussion follows... Cloudy conditions and scattered showers continue across the region this afternoon into the evening, with somewhat dreary conditions across southern Vermont. Lingering cloud cover and showers will make for mild overnight temperatures, with lows only dropping into the 60s. Another day of warming temperatures and increasing humidity can be expected for Wednesday as an upper level trough gradually approaches the region. High temperatures look to warm into the low to mid 80s across the region, with dewpoints in the mid to upper 60s making it quite muggy. A few showers will be possible throughout the day on Wednesday, with plenty of moisture and instability available, although a lack of forcing and weak shear will help limit any thunderstorm development. Any thunderstorms and showers that do develop will likely feature periods of moderate to heavy rainfall given abundant moisture, with PWAT values in excess of an inch. Surface winds will also be light, which could lead to slow-moving storms and enhance rainfall amounts. The warm and humid conditions will continue overnight Wednesday, with overnight lows only dropping into the 60s, with parts of the Champlain Valley hardly dropping below 70. && .SHORT TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT/... As of 349 PM EDT Tuesday...Confidence in strong to severe thunderstorms on Thursday continues to increase. A warm and humid airmass will be in place; 925mb temperatures will approach 24-25C, while PWATs surge to nearly 2 inches. Meanwhile, an upper trough and associated cold front will sweep eastward through the Great Lakes, eventually swinging through our area later Thursday into Thursday night. There`s still some disparity between forecast models in timing of these two latter features, and the best shear may lag behind the front somewhat. However, still anticipate 35-45 kt of 0-6km shear. With CAPE values around 1500 J/kg (or perhaps higher if one believes the NAM), the overall scenario still looks very optimal for strong to severe thunderstorms. Stronger storms would be capable of producing hail and gusty winds. In addition, given deep warm cloudy layers and the high PWATs, heavy rainfall rates will be possible, as well. Convection should have fairly good forward motion, but some cell training is possible. Even without training, rates in excess of 1 in/hr could result in localized amounts of 1-2 inches. So localized flash flooding will be possible as well, especially if heavier rain occurs in areas similar to any Wednesday storms. We remain in a Slight Risk of severe weather from SPC, and a Marginal Risk of Enhanced Rainfall from the WPC, which both seem appropriate. As Thursday draws closer, we`ll be within the realm of the hi-res CAMs, so hopefully details will become more clear in the next 24 hours or so. In addition to fueling thunderstorms, the heat and humidity will make for an uncomfortable day. Highs will range from around 80F in the Adirondacks and St Lawrence Valley, to the mid and even upper 80s in the Champlain and lower CT Valleys. We did increase highs just a tad with this forecast as some of the latest guidance shows we could get some decent sunny breaks during the mid morning to early afternoon, especially from the Champlain Valley eastward. Heat index values will be somewhat marginally high, in the mid 80s to near 90F, but could still lead to some increased risk of heat illness in sensitive and vulnerable populations. South winds will be gusty though, which may help keep those without A/C a little cooler. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... As of 349 PM EDT Tuesday...The main concern for the extended period continues to be the increasing confidence in dangerously hot and humid conditions for early next week. However, before we get there, we`ll have to contend with a potential decaying MCS/ridge roller over the weekend. Read on for details. Friday and Saturday...The upper trough will exit to the east while ridging starts to build into the area. A shortwave may bring a few showers and thunderstorms to mainly northern areas Friday, but the bigger story will be the cooler temperatures, though still close to normal. As ridging nudges into the area, long range guidance has started to come into better agreement, showing a decaying MCS riding down along the top of the ridge, moving from the Upper Midwest, across the Great Lakes, and into the Northeast. Still plenty of uncertainty with timing/placement, but have continued with 40-50% PoPs for Saturday afternoon/night as models seem to be converging on that time frame. Next week...strong ridging will build over the region, ushering in what will likely be the hottest airmass so far this season. NBM probabilities for highs above 90F continue to be quite high, particularly Monday and Tuesday, when much of VT and northern NY is included in values of 50 percent or more. In fact, portions of the central/southern Champlain Valley and lower CT Valley have probabilities of 90F or more of more than 80%. While this may be a bit overdone, it points toward a period of very warm temperatures. Unfortunately, this will be accompanied by high humidity and dewpoints well into the 60s or even above 70F. This means that the overnights will give little relief as they`ll remain very muggy and warm. Should this trend hold true, heat index values of 90-100F would be likely, leading to increased risk of heat stress and heat related illnesses, particularly in sensitive and vulnerable populations. Please stay tuned, as trends should become more clear as we approach early next week. && .AVIATION /02Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... Through 00Z Thursday...Variable conditions currently across our TAF sites with VFR at PBG and MSS to MVFR at BTV/SLK/EFK/RUT and intervals of IFR at MPV. Sounding data shows strengthen low level inversion with varying amounts of low level moisture across our central and eastern TAF sites. Given the southeast low level flow, feel the highest probability of developing IFR cigs will be at MPV toward midnight, with intervals of IFR cigs possible at RUT, but southeast flow might keep cigs just above IFR conditions. Otherwise a mix of MVFR/VFR will prevail overnight at PBG/SLK/BTV and EFK. Conditions will slowly improve to VFR most sites with MVFR cigs lingering at EFK/MPV and RUT until 16z or so on Weds. Southeast winds of 5 to 15 knots will slowly become south/southwest by Weds. Outlook... Wednesday Night: VFR. Slight chance SHRA, Slight chance TSRA. Thursday: Mainly VFR, with local MVFR possible. Likely SHRA, Likely TSRA. Thursday Night: Mainly MVFR, with local IFR possible. Chance SHRA, Slight chance TSRA. Friday: Mainly VFR, with local MVFR possible. Slight chance SHRA, Slight chance TSRA. Friday Night: VFR. Slight chance SHRA, Slight chance TSRA. Saturday: Mainly VFR, with areas MVFR possible. Chance SHRA, Slight chance TSRA. Saturday Night: Mainly VFR, with local IFR possible. Chance SHRA, Slight chance TSRA. Sunday: Mainly VFR, with areas MVFR possible. Slight chance SHRA. && .BTV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VT...None. NY...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...Kremer NEAR TERM...Duell/Kremer SHORT TERM...Hastings LONG TERM...Hastings AVIATION...Taber