


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Sterling, VA
Issued by NWS Sterling, VA
837 FXUS61 KLWX 271937 AFDLWX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 337 PM EDT Fri Jun 27 2025 .SYNOPSIS... A front will will remain stalled across the area through tonight, before lifting back to the north into New England this weekend. A second front may briefly dip into the area Sunday. Showers and thunderstorms will be possible each day until a stronger cold front crosses the area Tuesday. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SATURDAY MORNING/... The backdoor front has pushed well into southern Virginia, curling northward up the Appalachian spine. However, there is a zone between the wind shift and lower dew points and marine- influenced stratus, which will be the focus for convection this afternoon. Convergent upslope flow along the Appalachain spine is already resulting in numerous thunderstorms in this area, which are slow moving. The area of previous convection along the 850 mb boundary has stratified, but still lurking in northern Virginia. Expect this rain to dissipate as the afternoon progresses. The main hazard through this evening is flash flooding potential from central Virginia into the Appalachians. Confidence in heavy rain is greatest over the Potomac Highlands, along the boundary, with good agreement in most guidance. High end potential of 5 inches of rain could result in a more significant instance of flash flooding. A Flood Watch for flash flooding remains in effect until 10 PM. There`s much more uncertainty how far eastward the heavy rain reaches, as air quickly stabilizes in the cool air wedge. MLCAPE up to 2000 J/kg southwest of the boundary could result in an isolated severe thunderstorm with damaging downburst winds, but weak shear and lower DCAPE should limit this threat. Convection should wane this evening as is drifts into more stable air in the CAD wedge. Closer to the metro areas, any showers (besides drizzle) may occur during the second half of the night with isentropic lift as the boundary aloft lifts back northward. Expect the stratus to lower further overnight, which could reduce the visibility in fog is some locations, especially along the higher elevations. Lows will range from the mid 60s to lower 70s. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... The front will lift back northward Saturday, with good agreement on clearing by midday. This will result in temperatures warming back into the upper 80s and lower 90s. A relatively moist airmass remains in place though, so dew points will be fairly high in the 70s. This may result in heat index values in the lower 100s in some locations. A Heat Advisory can`t be ruled out, but current thinking is values will generally remain below the threshold. A subtle trough in the flow aloft along with terrain circulations will likely initiate convection in the afternoon in the hot and humid airmass. Coverage is a bit uncertain given lack of a strong focus and a westerly component to the winds aloft. However, moderate to high instability could result in some pulse severe storms with damaging winds. Greater coverage of storms may be found to the northwest along a southward moving cold front. The remnants of these could move into the area during the evening before diminishing. The aforementioned front will briefly settle south into the area on Sunday. Unlike the previous front, drier air will be located north of this boundary, and temperatures will remain above normal with little cold advection. It appears the best convective chances will be across the southern half of the area, and even then coverage may be somewhat limited. Diurnal diminishing will continue to be the theme. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... The front will lift back north Monday. However, falling heights, a prefrontal trough, and terrain circulations in a hot and humid airmass will likely result in scattered to numerous thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening. Potent shortwave-trough and accompanying sfc cold front will cross the area Tue afternoon and bring a threat of severe thunderstorms Tue afternoon into the evening. The main threat will be damaging winds given expected fast storm motions and strong instability. After trough axis passes Tue night, height rises and building high pressure will result in seasonable warm and dry/tranquil conditions through the Fourth of July Holiday weekend. && .AVIATION /19Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... IFR to low end MVFR conditions persist this afternoon at all terminals. Previous showers around the DC metro area continue to dissipate, although some patchy drizzle/mist may continue. Additional convection looks highly unlikely in this area. Some thunderstorms may propagate toward MRB/CHO toward this evening, so left in the PROB30 group as this remains uncertain. While a few showers may move across the area overnight, the main concern will be lowering ceilings, which may be close to LIFR by daybreak. At this time, it looks like stratus will prevail over dense fog, but visibilities may still be reduced. Easterly winds will trend toward calm overnight. Conditions are expected to improve back to VFR by midday Saturday, with thunderstorms possible during the afternoon. Prevailing VFR conditions, with lesser, but non-zero chances for thunderstorms are expected on Sunday. Winds will be light out of the southwest on Saturday, and light out of the northwest on Sunday. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible Monday afternoon and evening. Nmrs showers and thunderstorms expected Tue afternoon, some possibly severe with damaging winds. Dry conditions expected Wed. && .MARINE... Sub-SCA conditions should prevail through the weekend. Easterly winds continue through tonight, then become southwest on Saturday, and northwest on Sunday. A few thunderstorms may near the southern waters today, but there will be a greater chance of gusty thunderstorms on Saturday afternoon and evening. Thunderstorms are possible again Sunday afternoon and evening, especially near southern Maryland, but overall coverage should be lower. Thunderstorms with gusty winds are possible Monday afternoon and evening. Possible SCA conditions Mon night-Tue night. Strong to severe t-storms are possible Tue afternoon, which may require SMWs. && .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... Easterly flow today and tonight will become more southerly Saturday and result in water level rises with Annapolis likely to reach minor coastal flooding early Saturday morning. && .LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... DC...None. MD...Flood Watch until 10 PM EDT this evening for MDZ509-510. VA...Flood Watch until 10 PM EDT this evening for VAZ025-026-036- 503-504-508. WV...Flood Watch until 10 PM EDT this evening for WVZ055-501>503- 505-506. MARINE...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...ADS NEAR TERM...ADS SHORT TERM...ADS LONG TERM...LFR AVIATION...ADS/LFR MARINE...ADS/LFR TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...LFR