723
FXUS62 KMHX 180909
AFDMHX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC
509 AM EDT Tue Jun 18 2024

.SYNOPSIS...
High pressure dominates through Thursday resulting in dry and
warm conditions. Coastal troughing may bring some showers to
the region late in the week into the weekend.

&&

.NEAR TERM /TODAY/...
As of 3:30 AM Tuesday...The mid-level ridge is centered over eastern
NC and the surface high pressure is centered off the northeast
coast. Warm and dry conditions will prevail today with highs nearing
90 across the coastal plain and low to mid 80s along the beaches and
OBX. With dew points in the low 60s and an easterly breeze, it will
be quite pleasant. Those lower dew points will feel nice but they
will also present increased fire weather concerns with minimum RHs
around 35-40% across the inner coastal plain. See the Fire Weather
section for details.

&&

.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT/...
As of 3:30 AM Tuesday...Another pleasant evening is in store with
lows ranging from the mid 60s across the inner coastal plain to low
70s along the OBX. Cloud cover will increase from east to west
overnight as low level moisture increases.

&&

.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
As of 230 AM Tuesday...

 - Watching the Southwest Atlantic through late-week

 - Building heat and humidity likely (60-80% chance) this weekend
into next week

 - Increased storminess possible (30-50% chance) by next week

Synoptic Summary: An impressive mid-upper level ridge is forecast to
remain anchored over the Eastern U.S. through the end of the week.
Over the weekend and into next week, the ridge is forecast to break
down, or shift west, with upper level troughing returning to the
Eastern U.S. At the SFC, a strong area of high pressure is forecast
to remain over the Carolinas through mid-week. The high is then
forecast to shift offshore by the weekend, with lee-troughing
developing. A frontal boundary may try to sneak south into ENC early
next week.

Wednesday-Thursday: Despite impressive ridging at the surface and
aloft, an area of relatively lower low-level thicknesses are
forecast to remain in place within the easterly onshore flow across
the Carolinas through mid-week. This should keep temps close to
normal, locally, with the more impressive heat remaining focused to
our north across the Mid-Atlantic and New England. A moistening
easterly flow may support coastal shower activity moving west off
the Atlantic, especially Wednesday, but outside of weak WAA, there
isn`t much forcing, and I expect most areas will remain dry.

Friday-Saturday: Medium range guidance begin to differ during this
time, especially with the evolution of the above-mentioned mid-upper
level ridge. In general, the ridge is forecast to weaken, and
potentially shift west. Initially, the ridge overhead should keep
the tropical wave in the SW Atlantic on a westerly path through mid-
week. Then, late in the week, the evolution of the ridge will help
determine where the wave goes from there. The general consensus
among deterministic and ensemble guidance has been a more southerly
track with the wave, and weaker with any surface reflection. Of
note, the westward-shifting ridge may actually slow the forward
progress of the wave as it approaches the Southeast U.S. coast. Some
ensemble members even bring what`s left of the wave north as a
weakness develops within the broader ridge aloft. The key message
here is that we`ll still keep an eye on the SW Atlantic, but
guidance is trending towards something less noteworthy for now.

What is more certain during this time is the development of a
moistening return flow as SFC high pressure shifts offshore. This is
forecast to occur regardless of what happens with the above
mentioned wave. Despite the moistening low-levels, a lack of
appreciable forcing should keep the chance of showers/storms low.
With the increasing moisture will come increasing humidity, with a
"feels like" temp approaching 100 degrees by Saturday.

Sunday-Tuesday: Both deterministic and ensemble guidance are showing
a consistent signal for above normal temperatures and an increased
risk of heat-related impacts thanks to continued southerly flow and
increasing low-level thicknesses. During this period, the "feels
like" temperature is forecast to reach 100-105 degrees, especially
Sunday and Monday.

By Monday and Tuesday, southwesterly flow aloft tapping into a very
moist pool of Gulf of Mexico moisture should support PWATs climbing
back above 2". At minimum, the forecast pattern will favor a more
active seabreeze. Additionally, though, there may be some added
support from a shortwave, or two, and a frontal boundary trying to
drop south into the area. In light of all of this, ensemble guidance
has shown a consistent signal for increased storminess early next
week which will be welcomed given the very dry pattern of late. This
also appears to be the next appreciable chance of wetting rainfall.

&&

.AVIATION /09Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
SHORT TERM /through Tue/...
As of 1 AM Tuesday...Pred VFR through the period thanks to high
pressure off the mid-Atlantic coast. Skies should be mostly
clear tonight outside of a few high clouds. Winds are out of the
southeast but will back to the east overnight and remain nearly
calm (less than 5 kt). A lack of moisture will deflect
widespread fog development overnight but offshore strato-cu is
drifting westward and could bring some MVFR cigs along the OBX.
Tomorrow, skies will remain mostly clear outside of some diurnal
cu and winds will be light out of the east. Similarly to
tonight, some MVFR cigs could spread inland tomorrow night.

LONG TERM /Tuesday night through Saturday/...
As of 230 AM Tuesday...

VFR conditions are expected to prevail through the end of the work
week, with minimal impacts to aviation expected. By the weekend,
increasingly gusty southwest winds are likely, along with at least a
modest increase in the risk of SHRA and TSRA.

&&

.MARINE...
SHORT TERM /through Tuesday/...
As of 3:30 AM Tuesday...Warm and dry with sub-SCA conditions through
the period. Winds will be ESE 5-15 kt with gusts and 2-4 ft seas.

LONG TERM /Tuesday night through Saturday/...
As of 230 AM Tuesday...

 - Elevated seas possible mid-week (30-50% chance)

 - Elevated wind and seas possible this weekend (40-60% chance)

Through mid-week, we`ll be keeping an eye on a weak tropical wave
moving west through the Southwest Atlantic. Guidance has trended
weaker and further south with this wave, which may tend to keep seas
lower than previously forecast. However, there`s still at least some
potential for 6ft seas across portions of the central and southern
waters Wednesday and Thursday. Given the lower chance, and lower
confidence, no marine headlines are planned at this time. Otherwise,
good boating conditions continue with a continued easterly wind of 5-
15kt through Thursday. Winds become southerly late in the week and
over the weekend, while also building to 10-20kt. A period of 25kt
winds appears possible over the weekend. Seas will begin to build as
well, providing another opportunity for 6ft seas.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
As of 3:30 AM Tue...A dry airmass will be in place through mid
week, with minimum RH in the 30s and 40s percent, especially
away from the coast. This will overlap with breezy E winds at
times, and is noteworthy for any ongoing, or planned, fires.

&&

.MHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...None.
MARINE...None.

&&

$$
SYNOPSIS...MHX
NEAR TERM...OJC
SHORT TERM...OJC
LONG TERM...RM
AVIATION...OJC/RM
MARINE...OJC/RM
FIRE WEATHER...MHX