


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Newport/Morehead, NC
Issued by NWS Newport/Morehead, NC
Versions:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
502 FXUS62 KMHX 150104 AFDMHX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC 904 PM EDT Sat Jun 14 2025 .SYNOPSIS... An unsettled weather pattern will continue into early next week thanks to an unstable and very moist airmass in place across the region. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SUNDAY MORNING/... As of 830 PM Saturday... Key Messages - 20-30% Chance of showers and tstorms north of hwy 264 early tonight - Dry for most the second half of the night Rain chances remain low for much of the region through tonight. Front will slowly sink southward overnight across the Albemarle Sound region, with 20-30% chance of tstorms north of hwy 264 until 1am. After that, lack of diurnal heating and upper level support will result in showers/tstorms tapering off as we progress through the night. Low stratus will develop through ENC with ample low level moisture, with highest chances along and south of hwy 70 where we saw recent rainfall. A second surge of low stratus pushing in from the north may approach the Albemarle Sound region early morning, but unsure how far south it will extend at this point in time. It will be another warm night, with lows in the 70s areawide. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH 6 PM SUNDAY/... As of 3 PM Sat... - Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms expected again Sunday, with potential for localized flooding and gusty winds. High pressure will remain anchored offshore as weak backdoor front begins to sink southward into the northern portions of the forecast area. MLCAPES will reach 15-2500 J/kg, with 0-6 km deep layer shear around 20-30 kt, while the front/seabreeze should provide ample forcing. There will be a threat for some of this activity to become severe in nature with damaging winds being the primary hazard, though a few isolated instances of hail and an isolated tornado can`t be completely ruled out. The one limiting factor will be the weak mid-level lapse rates which may preclude a widespread severe threat. Either way SPC currently has the area under a marginal (level 1 of 5) risk for severe thunderstorms Sun afternoon and eve. Other concern will again be the potential for locally heavy rain with PWATs around 2 inches, which could lead to localized flooding. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 330 AM Saturday... Key Messages: - Unsettled weather pattern into Tuesday with multiple chances for severe weather and heavy rain - Potential for dangerous heat indices midweek into the end of next week. Sunday night through Tuesday...Unsettled weather will continue into Mon/Tue as upper ridging remains anchored to the south and east. At the same time, a slow moving upper trough gradually pushes E`wards across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic next week with multiple weak shortwaves tracking along the periphery of this upper trough. At the surface, cold front to the north at the start of the period will dive SE`wards, eventually stalling over the area Sun night, before lifting N on Mon and remaining just north of the area on Tue. As this occurs, the frontal boundary and Seabreeze will become the focus for shower and thunderstorm activity each day. The general trend for each day will be for ongoing showers and thunderstorms offshore to gradually push onshore with the seabreeze each morning. Then by the afternoon as the front nears the area, additional shower and thunderstorm activity develops before chances lower and precip pushes offshore each night. With warm and muggy conditions expected, MLCAPES will reach 1500-2500 J/kg on Mon/Tue. With 0-6 km deep layer shear maxing out around 25-40 kts each day and the front/Seabreeze providing ample forcing, there will be a threat for some of this activity to become severe in nature with damaging winds being the primary hazard, though a few isolated instances of hail and an isolated tornado can`t be completely ruled out. The one limiting factor each day will be the weak mid-level lapse rates which may preclude a broader severe threat. Will have to monitor trends but if convective coverage is anticipated to be larger than currently expected upgrades to the current threat may become necessary. Otherwise, with SW`rly surface flow continuing to pump ample moisture N`wards from the Gulf, expect PWATs to change little, remaining around 2 inches into Tue night while remaining muggy. Combined with slow storm motions, potentially training storms, and plenty of moisture, any storm that does develop will be a very efficient rain maker and localized flooding threat is on the table through early in the week (See HYDRO Section for more details). As a result portions, if not all of the FA is under a marginal/slight risk for excessive rainfall into Tue. Temps each day get into the upper 80s to low 90s with lows in the 70s each night. Wednesday into next weekend... Upper pattern eventually becomes more zonal by midweek with a return to a more summer like pattern with thunderstorms developing off the daily seabreeze and gradually pushing inland each day bringing. Will note, an upper level trough will be digging into the Mid-Atlantic from the west late next week, but should stay north of ENC given the latest guidance. As a result, a weak surface cold front may track across the region late next week, but impacts from this front remain uncertain. Of bigger note will be the hot and muggy conditions as a combination of temps in the 90s Wed/Thurs and dewpoints in the 70s will result in hazardous heat indices with "feels like" temps closer to the triple digits each day. Will have to monitor trends, but the years first heat advisories may be needed next week if the current forecast holds. && .AVIATION /00Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... SHORT TERM /through Sunday/... As of 845 PM Sat... Key Messages - Low stratus threat tonight - Increased TSRA risk Sunday Ample low level moisture and light (but not calm) winds tonight will result in a low stratus threat. Already, areas near the Crystal Coast have been flirting with IFR conditions, and the expectation is through the night, this stratus will lower, and become more expansive. There is uncertainty on how far inland the stratus goes, Meanwhile, a second surge of low stratus is expected to push in from the north early morning tomorrow. Model guidance suggests the stratus will remain north of the Albemarle Sound, but trends will need to be monitored in case MVFR/IFR stratus approaches northern terminals like PGV. Low stratus lifts Sunday morning, with scattered to numerous showers and storms expected again Sunday afternoon into the evening. LONG TERM /Sunday night through Thursday/... As of 330 AM Saturday...Unsettled weather will continue to persist across the area into midweek next week as multiple fronts bring several rounds of showers and thunderstorms to Eastern North Carolina. Greatest threat to see storms will be each afternoon and evening across the FA. This will bring a daily threat for sub-VFR conditions each day. In addition to this, early morning fog development will remain possible for areas that see rain. && .MARINE... SHORT TERM /through Sunday/... As of 855 PM Sat... Key Messages - Increased thunderstorm risk for areas waters through Sunday The thunderstorm risk may extend through tonight for the central and southern coastal waters, increasing after 1am. For all waters, the strongest thunderstorms will be capable of 30-40kt+ winds and waterspouts. Sunday, winds continue to be 10-20 kts out of the southwest, occasionally gusting to 25 kts in the Pamlico Sound and nearshore waters off of Hatteras Island. Of greater concern Sunday PM is the thunderstorm potential, capable of wind gusts over 40 kts and waterspouts. LONG TERM /Sunday night though Thursday/... As of 330AM Saturday... No significant changes to the forecast on this update as high pressure centered offshore in the Atlantic will continue to interact with frontal boundaries tracking across the region into next week. This will bring daily chances for showers and thunderstorms with offshore showers in the morning clearing by the afternoon and then additional shower and thunderstorm activity expected in the evening. This will bring a threat for locally enhanced winds and seas within any thunderstorm that moves out over the waters. Otherwise 5-15 kt SW`rly winds with gusts near 20-25 kts are forecast for Sun night with slightly stronger winds 15-20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt will be possible on Monday with the approach of a frontal boundary. Winds ease slightly back down to 5-15 kt out of the SW on Tue as high pressure tries to reestablish itself offshore. Seas remain around 2-4 ft through the period. && .HYDROLOGY... As of 3 PM Sat...A lingering frontal boundary draped over the mid-atlantic, paired with a moderately unstable and anomalously moist airmass supports areas of intense rainfall rates Sunday and Monday. While the most intense rainfall rates will tend to be of relatively shorter duration at any one location, the rates may support a few instances of flash flooding. A Flood Watch was contemplated, and will be re- evaluated tonight, with the heavy rain threat returning Sunday and Monday. && .MHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NC...None. MARINE...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...MHX NEAR TERM...CQD/RJ SHORT TERM...CQD LONG TERM...RCF AVIATION...RCF/RJ MARINE...CQD/RCF/RJ HYDROLOGY...MHX