


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Wilmington, NC
Issued by NWS Wilmington, NC
235 FXUS62 KILM 310647 AFDILM Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wilmington NC 247 AM EDT Sun Aug 31 2025 .SYNOPSIS... High pressure will build in from the north today and maintain control through Tuesday before weak low pressure likely impacts the area mid week. A weak cold front could then impact the area late week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Boundary along the coast along with land breeze producing spotty showers early this morning. Expect mainly spotty showers earlier today closer to the coast and offshore, but as dry high pressure builds in from the north, expect mainly higher clouds by later today. GFS shows higher pcp water values along and just off the coast this morning, but diminishing to near and inch by later today. Looking at the sounding profiles, it looks like mid to high clouds will basically be passing overhead around base of mid to upper trough, with considerable dry air moving in within the low levels. Gusty northeast winds will develop today as high pressure builds in from the north and low pressure moves up through the offshore waters producing breezy conditions through this afternoon. Expect below normal temps with highs today in the low 80s most places. Dewpoint temps well into the 60s early this morning will drop out into the 50s inland by later today, allowing for overnight lows tonight to drop closer to 60 and possibly below over inland areas. && .SHORT TERM /MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/... Key Messages/Highlights: *Near to below normal rain chances, mainly near the coast *No risk for severe storms/flash flooding *Below normal temps Confidence: *Moderate to High Details: No major changes from the previous forecast. Inland high pressure and offshore low pressure will keep a cool northerly flow in place at the surface. Latest guidance suggests most showers remaining offshore so we did trend the forecast a bit drier and removed mention of thunder. Temps will stay below normal with highs generally in the lower 80s and lows generally around 60 inland and a bit warmer near the coast (esp Tue night). && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... Key Messages/Highlights: *Near to below normal rain chances likely *No risk for severe storms/flash flooding *Mainly below normal temps Confidence: *Low to Moderate Details: A broad upper trough looks to remain in place at least through mid week with at least some weakening late in the week. At the surface, high pressure to the north will be giving way to weak low pressure from the south mid week, although the track/timing of this low is still a bit uncertain. A weak cold front then looks to approach late week, possibly even moving through SE NC and/or NE SC at some point. Still keeping rain chances fairly low for now given the uncertainty. Temps will be below normal through Wed night, then possibly get back closer to normal late week depending on rain/cloud coverage. && .AVIATION /06Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... Mainly VFR through the period. N-NE flow will continue as high pressure builds in from the north and low pressure remains well offshore through today. This tightened gradient flow will produce gusty NE winds through this afternoon. Enough drier air will move in from the north to suppress most shower activity. MYR has the best chance through early this morning and have included a Prob30 for MVFR ceilings, while LBT has calm winds and may see some fog and stratus up until 12z. Extended Outlook...Brief restrictions due to a passing SHRA or TSRA are possible each afternoon, especially closer to the coast. && .MARINE... Through tonight...Small Craft Advisory conditions will develop through this afternoon as gusty northeast winds develop in tightened gradient flow between high pressure building in from the north and low pressure in the offshore waters. Winds will reach up to 20 to 25 kts with gusts up around 30 kts. Seas around 2 to 3 ft will rise steadily through today in NE push, reaching 4 to 6 ft later today and peaking later tonight. Monday through Thursday...High pressure will remain centered to the north thru Tue night with elevated winds/seas around marginal Small Craft Advisory levels (25 kt and 6 ft) are expected into Mon night. The high should then weaken mid week as weak low pressure approaches from the south, likely passing over or near the area by the end of the period. Although there is some uncertainty regarding the track/timing of the low Wed/Thu, the chance for SCA conditions seems very low. && .ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NC...Beach Hazards Statement from 6 AM EDT this morning through this evening for NCZ106-108-110. SC...Beach Hazards Statement from 6 AM EDT this morning through this evening for SCZ054-056. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from 11 AM this morning to midnight EDT Monday night for AMZ250-252-254-256. && $$ SYNOPSIS...ILM NEAR TERM...RGZ SHORT TERM...RJB LONG TERM...RJB AVIATION...RGZ MARINE...RJB/RGZ