046
FXUS62 KMHX 142254
AFDMHX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC
654 PM EDT Mon Sep 14 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Aviation discussion updated.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1) A cold front will continue to push through the area this
afternoon bringing a chance of showers and thunderstorms.

2) Warm and mostly dry conditions expected for much of the
upcoming week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...A cold front will continue to sink southward
through the area this afternoon and early evening. Showers and
storms continue to blossom near the Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds
this afternoon. West to northwest low-level flow should tend to
limit the strength of convergence along the front. However, as
the front encounters the developing seabreeze, there should be a
local enhancement to low-level forcing, especially along and
south of HWY 70. This is the area where the best chance for
sustained, deep convection exists. The risk is conditional on
sufficient low- level forcing, but should this occur, a short-
lived risk of strong to marginally severe thunderstorms may
develop thanks to elevated deep layer shear (~35kt) and moderate
instability (MLCAPE up to 1500J/kg). Machine learning guidance
isn`t all that excited about this potential, and this likely
speaks to the conditionality of the threat. This risk will
quickly end from north to south as the front shifts off the
Crystal Coast by sunset.

KEY MESSAGE 2...Guidance continue to trend stronger with an
upper level ridge that will be expanding across the Southern
U.S. this week. In fact, ensemble guidance is now forecasting
500mb heights around 600dm with this ridge, the strength of
which is very unusual for this time of year. Normally, this
would spell anomalous heat for ENC. However, a pocket of
"cooler" thicknesses is forecast to be over the Carolinas
associated with the post-frontal northeasterly flow regime,
especially Tuesday and Wednesday. While it will be mostly dry,
those cooler thicknesses may shield ENC from the anomalous heat
that other parts of the South will experience. That pocket of
lower thicknesses may begin to erode by the end of the week,
with temperatures warming by then. However, guidance differ on
when/if this will occur.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
VFR conditions forecast through the period. Showers and
thunderstorms associated with a southward moving cold front have
since pushed offshore and outside of some mid level clouds over
the next few hours mo clear skies are forecast tonight across
all terminals. Dry air and a light but steady NE wind should
preclude any fog threat tonight as well. Steady NE winds will
continue through the day on Tue with partly cloudy skies as
high pressure begins to build over the area.

Outlook (Tue night through Sat): High pressure builds in
through the middle of the week with mostly VFR conditions
expected. The high should also limit precip chances through late
week.

&&

.MARINE...
Latest obs show NE-NW winds 5-15 kt with seas 2-4 ft. A cold
front will continue to sink southward through the waters this
afternoon and early eve. N-NE winds will surge to 15-25 kt
behind the front, peaking this evening then gradually
diminishing late tonight into Tuesday. SCAs continue for the
coastal waters, sounds and the Neuse/Bay Rvrs. Seas will build
to around 5-8 ft late tonight with highest seas across the Gulf
Stream. Wave guidance is typically underdone in NE flow and
manually adjusted seas up 1-2 ft this afternoon into Tuesday,
especially across the northern waters.

Outlook (Tue night through Sat): An extended period of
northeasterly flow is expected through at least Wednesday or
Thursday. Winds are forecast to lay down below 25kt, but
elevated seas may linger for much of the week, especially with
the contra flow against the Gulf Stream waters. For the near-
shore coastal waters, elevated seas will likely linger through
mid-week. Lighter winds Fri and Sat with seas mainly 2-3 ft.

&&

.MHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 2 AM EDT Tuesday for AMZ131-230-231.
     Small Craft Advisory until 11 AM EDT Tuesday for AMZ135-137.
     Small Craft Advisory until 2 PM EDT Tuesday for AMZ150.
     Small Craft Advisory until midnight EDT Wednesday night for
     AMZ152-154.
     Small Craft Advisory until 8 PM EDT Tuesday for AMZ156.
     Small Craft Advisory until 8 PM EDT Tuesday for AMZ158.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...SK
AVIATION...CQD/RCF
MARINE...CQD/SK