Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Sterling, VA
Issued by NWS Sterling, VA
489 FXUS61 KLWX 040209 AFDLWX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 909 PM EST Tue Nov 3 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... The forecast remains on track so no changes were necessary. && .KEY MESSAGES... - 1) Above normal temperatures and dry conditions through Wednesday with increasing rain chances Thursday into early next week. - 2) Rain chances continue into early next week with cooling temperatures. && .DISCUSSION... KEY MESSAGE 1...Above normal temperatures and dry conditions through Wednesday with increasing rain chances Thursday into early next week. High pressure stretching along the Eastern Seaboard will maintain quiet weather through tonight and most of the day Wednesday. A light southeast to southerly flow will bring in additional moisture and some warmth throughout this prolonged period. As a matter of fact, the increasing moisture and falling temperatures at night could result in some patchy fog in interior mountain valleys and along and east of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Otherwise, mostly sunny skies expected through midday Wednesday, before some increasing clouds in the afternoon. Lows tonight will fall back into the upper 40s and low 50s with highs back in the low to mid 70s Wednesday. A few locations could punch into the upper 70s in the lee of Alleghenies and south/east of Washington, D.C. Wednesday afternoon given increased southerly flow. The high pressure ridge will break down to allow for increasing clouds and increasing rain chances from west to east Wednesday night. Lesser rain chances on Thursday as a trough moves by to the north. The resultant surface front is set to cross sometime Thursday morning into Thursday afternoon leading to scattered showers and a few t-storms. Rainfall amounts Thursday will range between a tenth to a quarter of an inch, with locally higher totals west of the Alleghenies where better forcing resides. Despite increased cloud cover expect highs back into the low to mid 70s (60s mountains) Thursday afternoon. Storm total rain through Friday night will generally be between a quarter to a half an inch. KEY MESSAGE 2...Rain chances continue into early next week with cooling temperatures. Temperatures drop towards the beginning of the weekend as Thursday`s cold front passes offshore, with afternoon highs back in the 60s on Saturday. Skies could temporarily clear Saturday afternoon into Sunday as the earlier upper-level trough continues east. Meanwhile, a second trough moving southeast from the Canadian Rockies will move in closely behind, with a stemming cold front moving through beginning late Sunday into Monday. This second upper level low could bring additional rain showers to the region, although total QPF estimates continue to be uncertain. Thunderstorm potential should be lower with this second wave, and any rainfall will continue to be beneficial after 2+ weeks in a dry spell. Temperatures continue to cool towards more seasonable November normals, with highs in the low 60s over the metros and low 50s in the mountains by Monday. Overnight lows could return to the low to mid 30s in some areas early next week as these cold fronts move through. Zonal flow overhead returns by midweek next week. && .AVIATION /01Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... VFR conditions and light south/southeasterly winds at less than 15 kts will continue through Wednesday as high pressure meanders over the western Atlantic. Some patchy fog could occur again along and east of I-95 tonight/Wednesday morning given the uptick in moisture advection. This will lead to brief reductions in cigs/vsbys during the 9-14z/4-9am time window. VFR conditions continue into Thursday although brief sub-VFR reductions are possible at times with showers and even a few thunderstorms Thursday morning into Thursday afternoon. South to southwesterly winds continue at less than 15 kts. Temporary restrictions could linger throughout the day Friday as continued rain showers track through the Mid-Atlantic. Conditions should improve throughout the day Saturday, with winds flowing northwesterly in the wake of the front. VFR conditions for most of the weekend, with additional rain showers possible beginning late Sunday into Monday as a second cold front pushes through. && .MARINE... No marine hazards are expected through Wednesday morning. Winds will remain light out of the south and southeast through Wednesday as high pressure pushes offshore. By Wednesday evening into Thursday morning, expect the potential for southerly channeling due to the high offshore and incumbent trough from the northern Ohio River Valley. Confidence in this occurring is low with a focus over the middle and open waters. Winds shift northwesterly on Saturday in the wake of a cold front, potentially crossing SCA thresholds by the afternoon. Winds temporarily diminish on Sunday evening before increasing to 20 knot gusts ahead of a second cold front on Monday. && .LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... DC...None. MD...None. VA...None. WV...None. MARINE...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...BRO/KLW/EST/SRT AVIATION...KLW/EST/SRT MARINE...KLW/EST/SRT