237
FXUS62 KILM 120002
AFDILM

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
800 PM EDT Fri Sep 11 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Aviation section updated.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Deep Gulf moisture and a break in the ridge aloft will
maintain good chances for showers and thunderstorms through
Sunday.

2) Well-above normal temperatures and high humidity will
maintain daytime heat indices at or above 100 degrees through
Monday.

3) A modified Canadian airmass should bring near-normal
temperatures beginning Tuesday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...Deep Gulf moisture and a break in the ridge aloft will
maintain good chances for showers and thunderstorms through
Sunday.

This morning`s 12z CHS weather balloon measured a precipitable
water of 2.35 inches. That`s one-third of an inch above the 90th
climatological percentile and near the daily max for this time
of year. Deep Gulf moisture will continue to stream northeastward
across the eastern Carolinas through Sunday morning between a
mid level ridge east of the Bahamas and a trough over the Mid-
Mississippi Valley.

Surface-based CAPE near 2000 J/kg, forecast 0-6 km bulk shear
around 10 knots, and little-to-no dry air aloft argues for
single-cell storm development on Saturday with heavy rain
potential. Some loose storm organization could occur along the
seabreeze front and any outflow boundaries, but severe weather
risk should remain very low. HREF ensemble 24-hr max precip of
3-5 inches implies there will be a few isolated heavy totals
within the sea of 0.25 to 0.50 inch weekend amounts.

The upper trough producing the break in the ridge should slide
eastward across the Carolinas on Sunday, perhaps enhancing bulk
shear to around 20 knots. Multicells should become possible,
perhaps bringing better potential for gusty winds. The upper
trough should shift offshore Sunday night ahead of rising mid
and upper level heights spreading eastward from the Mid South.


KEY MESSAGE 2...Well-above normal temperatures and high humidity will
maintain daytime heat indices at or above 100 degrees through
Monday.

850 mb temps in the +18C to +19C range should continue through
the weekend. This is at or above the 90th climatological
percentile for mid September. If it weren`t for the increased
cloudiness and convection expected this weekend we`d probably be
looking at Heat Advisory-level conditions.

As it stands now, forecast highs in the upper 80s to around 90
coupled with dewpoints well into the 70s should yield heat
indices in the 100-103 range through Monday.

NWS ILM has never issued a Heat Advisory later than September 5
since the introduction of VTEC product codes twenty years ago.
(and that latest advisory was earlier this month)


KEY MESSAGE 3...A modified Canadian airmass should bring near-normal
temperatures beginning Tuesday.

Models have all come into line over the past 24 hours showing
the strongest Canadian high we`ve seen since last Spring moving
across New England Tuesday into Wednesday. This should push a
cold front southward across the eastern Carolinas Monday night,
allowing a modified Canadian airmass to spread across the area
Tuesday into Wednesday. This won`t be crisp, dry Canadian air by
any means given its long passage across water temps in the 70s
and 80s, but it should bring cooler air across the area knocking
temperatures back down closer to normal for mid September.

Forecast lows in particular look refreshing with 60s expected
for all but east-facing beaches Tuesday night and Wednesday
night. Some inland locations could conceivably dip to 60
degrees.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...

VFR for most of tonight until we head towards the predawn hours.
Late tonight there is a moderate potential for LIFR ceilings to
develop over KFLO and KLBT mainly after 10z, lingering through 13-
14z much like we saw this morning. Guidance has backed off slightly
on both but given not only the ambient moisture in place but the
widespread rainfall we saw these solutions have not been favored and
the forecast remains rather pessimistic. The low clouds should limit
fog vsby restrictions to MVFR. These low stratus clouds should lift
into a cumulus cloud deck with bases 2500-3500 feet AGL after 14-15z
Saturday with another round of showers and thunderstorms anticipated
to develop during the heat of the day.

Extended Outlook...Scattered showers and thunderstorms bringing
brief MVFR/IFR conditions are expected Saturday afternoon and
again Sunday afternoon. There is also a low potential for late
night/early morning stratus or ground fog affecting KLBT and
KFLO late Saturday night and again late Sunday night. VFR
conditions should prevail Monday through Wednesday as a more
stable and drier Canadian airmass builds in from the northeast.

&&

.MARINE...
Tonight through Tuesday night...Models continue to consistently
show a cold front stalling across interior North Carolina
tonight, then lifting back north on Saturday with no direct
impact on our weather or winds this far south. Light to moderate
southwesterly winds are expected to continue through the
weekend along with multiple waves of showers and thunderstorms
Saturday through Sunday night.

Drier weather should develop on Monday as high pressure
strengthens aloft over the Carolinas. The strongest Canadian
high we`ve seen since last Spring should move across New England
Tuesday and Wednesday, pushing a cold front southward across the
Carolina coastal waters Monday night. Northeast winds behind the
front should increase to a solid 20 knots offshore and 15-20
knots nearshore Tuesday into Tuesday night. Seas within 20
miles of shore could build to 4-6 feet with dominant wave
periods near 6 seconds.

&&

.ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...Coastal Flood Advisory from 9 PM this evening to 1 AM EDT
     Saturday for NCZ107.
SC...None.
MARINE...None.

&&

$$

WHAT HAS CHANGED...MBB
KEY MESSAGES...TRA
DISCUSSION...TRA
AVIATION...MBB/TRA
MARINE...TRA