Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS State College, PA
Issued by NWS State College, PA
Versions:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
851 FXUS61 KCTP 052051 RRA AFDCTP Area Forecast Discussion...Retransmitted National Weather Service State College PA 239 PM EDT Sat Sep 5 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... * No major changes. && .KEY MESSAGES... 1) Still a few showers/isolated storms across the far southwest this afternoon. 2) A dry end to the last big weekend of the summer season. && .DISCUSSION... KEY MESSAGE 1: Still a few showers/isolated storms across the far southwest this afternoon. Drier air over southern Canada will continue to slowly edge to the south and west of central PA over the next few days. Still a few showers over the far southwest until around sunset today, as a wind shift line acts on higher dewpoints near the MD border to trigger showers. Aside from some fog late tonight, expect good weather to prevail on Sunday. More detail below. Cooler air arrives later tonight as dewpoints and low temperatures drop into the 50s areawide (and touch the upper 40s in the northwest mountains). There could be some fog tonight as well, especially across the northeast part of the area. ------------------------------------------------------- KEY MESSAGE 2: A dry end to the last big weekend of the summer season. After a summer of stormy conditions, especially on the weekend, this Sunday will feature lots of sun and dry weather for the holiday weekend, as high pressure slowly builds into the area. Low chance of a shower across areas to our east and north on Sunday. Went with a dry fcst for our area. Enjoy your holiday weekend. There could be some river valley, patchy fog Monday and even Tuesday morning, given light winds, clear skies, and recent wet conditions. && .AVIATION /18Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... Predominately VFR conditions will prevail across the area this afternoon, with peak heating allowing for localized MVFR ceilings to mix out. Distant cut-off low over Atlantic Canada will trend winds N/NE`erly through the 18Z TAF period, bringing a drier continental air mass into the region. A few rain showers have developed in SW PA (e.g. Somerset, Bedford) this afternoon, where precipitable water values remain elevated as drier air continues to gradually filter into the region (PWs up to 1.5"), though weak forcing & displacement of showers from richer moisture over VA will tend to limit shower coverage, particularly at terminals. For these reasons, no mentions of SHRA were added to TAFs, with a ~20% chance of a steadier shower to move overhead at KJST/KAOO, where brief visibility restrictions primarily to MVFR would be possible. Diurnally driven showers across the Commonwealth will diminish this evening, where clearing skies may contribute to overnight fog/low stratus development. Higher confidence in restrictions is for the northern terminals (KBFD/KIPT/KUNV) where lighter winds will be in place given weaker pressure gradient, with lower confidence elsewhere as winds may remain elevated enough to mix out fog/stratus. Gradual improvements to VFR are favored where these overnight restrictions develop, with VFR favored elsewhere. Outlook... Mon-Tue...VFR favored; morning fog possible. Wed...PM SHRA/TSRA possible in the northern tier. Thu...Cold FROPA may bring chances for -SHRA/-TSRA across the Commonwealth. && .CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ WHAT HAS CHANGED...Martin KEY MESSAGES...Martin DISCUSSION...Martin AVIATION...Teare