


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Sterling, VA
Issued by NWS Sterling, VA
846 FXUS61 KLWX 170751 AFDLWX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 351 AM EDT Tue Jun 17 2025 .SYNOPSIS... A warm front will slowly lift through the area today bringing the return of warm temperatures and thunderstorm chances to the region. Temperatures continue to climb Wednesday with additional shower and thunderstorm chances as a trough of low pressure passes through. The heat and humidity remain Thursday along with the risk of severe weather as a strong cold front crosses the region. Drier and less humid Friday as hot high pressure builds for the upcoming weekend and into the middle part of next week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... The CAD wedge continues to hold this morning especially over central MD and northern VA. Low clouds, fog, and drizzle continue in these locations with passing showers further south and west into central VA and western MD where the dissipating stalled front remains. A ripple of shortwave energy looks to push toward the region from eastern KY and West Virginia this morning aiding in the development of additional showers while lifting what is left of the stalled boundary back north as a warm front heading into the afternoon. Some uncertainty remain in regards to the placement of the warm front later this afternoon given the influence of high pressure off the northern New England coast. With the high up to the north the current hybrid CAD wedge will be hard to erode especially over central and northern MD this afternoon and even into the early evening hours. Areas further south toward northern and central VA, and the Alleghenies will likely see the wedge erode away later this morning and into midday with a few filtered breaks of sunshine poking through. Areas that do see the sunshine will see an increased chance for thunderstorm development this afternoon as instability increases (i.e CAPE values of 500-1500 j/kg). 0-6 km shear values look to increase as well between 30-40 kts favoring progressive multicellular clusters and line segments heading into the afternoon/evening especially in locations along and west of the Blue Ridge. PWATS unfortunately will remain anomalously high with values running anywhere between 1.8-2.1 inches. Even with progressive storm motions current antecedent conditions and efficient warm rain processes (i.e rain rates 1-2"+/hr) will yield continued concerns for localized flash flooding. With all that said, a Flood Watch has been issued from 11am today through 10pm this evening for locations along and west of the Blue Ridge. 00z CAM guidance shows convective initiation over the mountains around midday before bringing everything east toward I-81/US-15 around 2-5pm and toward the metros shortly thereafter between 4-7pm. The highest flood concerns appear to be across northern VA, the Shenandoah Valley, and the Alleghenies where repetitive flash flood warnings/flood warnings have taken place over recent days. Rain totals of 0.5-2" are possible in the watch area with localized totals up to 5 inches under heavier storms. Current 3-6 hr FFG guidance remains less than 1 inch over a large chunk of the area, so it won`t take much for instances of flash flooding to occur. The risk for severe weather is low, though non-zero as SPC maintains a Marginal Risk (Level 1 out 5) much of the area outside of northeast MD this afternoon and evening. Damaging winds and wet microbursts look to be the main threat with storms today. After several days of well below normal temps we finally return close to normal temps for mid June with highs in the low to mid 80s this afternoon. Locations along the MD/PA line (i.e northeast and central MD) may run a touch cooler in the upper 70s as the wedge will hold on through mid-afternoon. Lows will fall back into the upper 60s and low 70s tonight as the warm front lifts through the area. Any residual thunderstorm activity will come to an end although low and mid level clouds will remain especially along and north of I-66/US-50. Fog will also be concern with the moist airmass overhead. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... More of the same can be expected Wednesday as the warm front lifts further north of the area. This will allow hotter temperatures to move in along with slightly drier conditions under the influence of west to southwest downsloping flow. Current 00z CAMS and synoptic guidance still hint on the threat of a few showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening hours Wednesday as an upper level trough passes through. Highest probability of severe thunderstorms looks to be west of the Alleghenies due the proximity of an encroaching cold front and east of US-15 where subtle lift from the departing trough/bay breeze interaction could take place. Elsewhere, pop showers and thunderstorms are likely given the hot and humid airmass in place. Damaging winds will once again be the primary threat with any storms that form along with localized concerns for flash flooding. Highs Wednesday will push into the upper 80s and low 90s outside the mountains. Heat index values Wednesday afternoon will make it feel like the mid to upper 90s, especially east US-15 as humidity continues to increase across the region. The lead shortwave trough works east Wednesday night into Thursday as the cold front approaches form the Ohio River Valley. Convection over the mountains will work east as well before slowly dissipating given the lack of instability during the overnight hours. Lows Wednesday night will fall back into the low to mid 70s. An upper level trough pivoting across the Great Lakes region will push a strong cold front through the area Thursday. High temperatures will rise into the low to mid 90s Thursday afternoon with heat index values in the metros near 100 degrees. CAPE values will increase to around 1500-2000 j/kg with steep low-level lapse rates (7+ C/Km) and moderate bulk shear values of (30-50 kts). This will lead to progressive multicellular clusters and line segments across the region. Damaging wind gusts will be the main hazard with any storms that form. The Storm Prediction Center has the forecast area east of the Allegheny front in a 15% risk for severe weather on Thursday afternoon. One wildcard will be westerly flow aloft. This could disturb the coverage of storms especially as they push east of the mountains. We`ll continue to monitor this threat as it evolves. Any convection will come to an end Thursday night with lowering humidity in the wake of the frontal passage. Lows Thursday night will fall back into the low to mid 60s. Areas of fog will remain possible near the water and in the valleys. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... The main theme of the Long Term period will be increasing heat. Medium range model progs indicate a likelihood of several days of 90+ degree high temperatures, with some low end potential of hitting 100 particularly early next week. This is thanks to a large ridge that will be building over the eastern CONUS. Although no large scale troughs or fronts are expected to cross the region, small disturbances rounding the ridge in the hot and increasingly humid airmass could result in a risk for showers and thunderstorms late in the weekend into early next week. Heat indices will be on the rise as well during this time, with at least a small chance of the first round of heat headlines for the season. && .AVIATION /08Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... Widespread IFR to LIFR conditions continue across the terminals this morning as a maritime airmass remains in place. Low clouds continue to prevail along with passing showers and areas of drizzle. CIGS range between 400-900 feet within the corridor with vsbys bouncing between 2-6SM. These vsby reductions are due largely in part to drizzle/showers compared to fog. Passing showers and drizzle will remain within the corridor through at least 14-15z/10-11am as a warm front lifts northward through the region. This boundary should erode away the residual maritime airmass in place resulting in a lifting cloud deck heading in the afternoon, especially at terminals along and south of a line from KMRB to KIAD/KDCA. Areas further north toward KBWI and KMTN will likely hang in the maritime air longer with subtle improvements after 17-18z/1-2pm this afternoon. MVFR to VFR conditions are expected this afternoon and evening although renewed shower and thunderstorm chances look to impact the terminals. Have PROB30 groups in for the corridor terminals with a focus on thunderstorm development between 20-24z/4-8pm. Temporary sub-VFR reductions are likely during this time. Storms will pack a punch with damaging winds and localized flash flooding as the primary concerns. Periods of sub-VFR conditions are likely again overnight with low and mid level clouds sticking around and areas of fog. This is especially true in areas that do see the rain and locations north of I-676/US-50 which will be closer to the warm front as it slowly jogs north of the area. Winds today will switch from east this morning to the south and southeast this afternoon at less than 15 kts. After a brief period of sub-VFR Wednesday morning, VFR conditions look to prevail. Additional showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening hours will lead to temporary sub-VFR drops especially at terminals east of the Blue Ridge. Overall coverage will be limited with damaging winds and localized flash flooding once again as the primary concerns. Prevailing VFR conditions are expected Thursday. Temporary drops to sub-VFR conditions may be possible in thunderstorms especially Thursday afternoon and evening. VFR conditions are expected Friday into Saturday with west to northwest winds 5-10 knots becoming south. && .MARINE... Low clouds and some marine fog are possible this morning given the moist airmass in place. Low clouds and will be slow to lift this afternoon as a warm front lifts through the region. Sub-SCA level southerly winds are expected over the waters on both today and Wednesday. An SMW or two cannot be ruled out with scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening hours. Highest coverage for storms both days will be between 3-8pm. SMWs are possible given thermodynamic and kinematic environment for Thursday in any thunderstorm. SCA conditions likely return with cold frontal passage Thursday into Friday. West to northwest winds are expected Friday into Saturday, becoming southerly Saturday afternoon at generally 10 knots or less. && .LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... DC...None. MD...Flood Watch from 11 AM EDT this morning through this evening for MDZ003-501-502-509-510. VA...Flood Watch from 11 AM EDT this morning through this evening for VAZ025>031-036>040-050-051-053-501>508-526-527. WV...Flood Watch from 11 AM EDT this morning through this evening for WVZ050>053-055-501>506. MARINE...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...EST NEAR TERM...EST SHORT TERM...EST LONG TERM...DHOF AVIATION...DHOF/EST MARINE...DHOF/EST