


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Newport/Morehead, NC
Issued by NWS Newport/Morehead, NC
893 FXUS62 KMHX 011337 AFDMHX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC 937 AM EDT Mon Sep 1 2025 .SYNOPSIS... High pressure will continue to wedge over the mid-Atlantic and Carolinas today, abutting a stalled frontal boundary and low pressure a couple hundred miles off the coast. Another area of low pressure may pass over or offshore of the area mid to late week. A front will move through the area late this weekend and early next week. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... As of 0935 Monday...No changes required for the morning update with the forecast tracking well. Previous Disco...Labor Day kicking off on a cool and clear note as broad mid-level cyclone continues to swirl over the eastern CONUS, helping to funnel dry air from New England southward. At the surface, wedge of high pressure remains entrenched over the mid-Atlantic and into the Carolinas, while offshore stalled frontal boundary and attendant low pressure linger. The resultant pressure gradient is helping keep northeasterly flow elevated across the region, especially for OBX where frequent gusts of 20-25 kt continue. Little change in the forecast today from yesterday as overall pattern remains stagnant. Highs will approach the low 80s in gusty northeasterly winds, especially in the afternoon. Shower threat will be predominantly confined offshore where instability will be maximized between the Gulf Stream and cooler air aloft in tandem with better moisture, but cannot rule out a brief shower or two bleeding along the coast. A rumble of thunder or two cannot be ruled out given modest instability of up to 500 J/kg. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 6 AM TUESDAY/... As of 235 AM Monday...Another cool and partly clear evening in store as any lingering shower threat along the coast comes to an end. Guidance hints at a modest increase in moisture overnight, and would not be surprised to see some low stratus attempt to develop inland. Lows fall into the upper 50s to low 60s inland, mid to upper 60s along the water. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 220 AM Mon... Key Messages - Below normal temperatures expected through midweek - Increasing precip chances late weekend and early next week Tuesday...Troughing will remain over the Eastern Seaboard with an upper level low centered in the Northeastern CONUS moving little through Tuesday morning. This upper level low then moves off to the north and east Tue night into the Canadian Maritimes. Enhanced southern stream jet will also be noted extending from the Sargasso Sea west into the Deep South. This is notable as this will be the catalyst for surface low cyclogenesis off the Southeast Coast with this low forecast to deepen as it tracks north and east off the East Coast. At the same time, surface high pressure will be centered over the Great Lakes but will be wedging itself into the Mid-Atlantic. This is forecast to keep the aforementioned low off the coast of the Carolinas into Tuesday thus limiting any precip threat to along the coast and OBX. Shortwave diving south across the Northern Plains along the periphery of the troughing over the Eastern CONUS. This lead shortwave will be out ahead of a much deeper trough diving S`wards from the Canadian Prairies towards the Great Lakes. At the surface this will result in a second area of cyclogenesis in the Central Plains with this surface cyclone and its associated front pushing further southwards towards the Gulf Coast States. Temps will continue to remain below avg through Tue with highs only getting into the mid 70s to low 80s. Lows get into the upper 50s inland to upper 60s across the OBX. Wed through the weekend...Medium to low confidence forecast for the remainder of the extended range given large model spread in overall strength and position of upper level troughs and lower level features later next week. Lead shortwave trough is forecast to strengthen some on Wed/Thurs allowing broad troughing over the Eastern CONUS to deepen while southern stream jet strengthens further allowing for a deepening surface low in the Gulf. This deepening low is then forecast to track north and east Wed-Fri. Recent trends have slowed the progression of this low and trended towards a more offshore track, so impacts have lowered on Wed but have increased late week as the low makes its closest point of approach. Will continue sc pops through the period, lower than climo. As strong upper trough dives into the Great Lakes and Northeast Wed through Fri with associated surface low and cold front pushing east towards ENC. High pressure is then forecast to build in from the west over the weekend. Again, guidance is having a hard time handling the strength and position of the upper level troughs, so confidence in the exact evolution of these features is low. But could see a low end threat for additional precip on Fri into the weekend. Temps remain below avg through Wed gradually warming closer climo by the end of the week as NE`rly flow becomes more S`rly and low level thicknesses increase. Temps will climb back towards 90 deg inland late week into the first part of the weekend. Another front looks to push through the area late weekend and early next week, which will lead to enhanced precip chances. && .AVIATION /14Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... SHORT TERM /through 12z Tuesday/... As of 710 AM Monday...VFR prevails across all TAF terminals this morning with some spotty MVFR cigs encroaching on the Outer Banks in association with modestly deeper moisture pooled along a stalled frontal boundary offshore. Mainly VFR expected through the period, although some lower clouds may result in brief periods of sub- MVFR early this morning. Breezy conditions yet again in the afternoon with gusts up to 15-20 kt inland, and up to 25 kt OBX. Isolated shower threat expected for coastal terminals, but TAF sites should remain dry. VFR holds steady overnight, although some guidance shows a slightly stronger signal for low stratus, especially across the coastal plain where moisture will be modestly deeper and winds calm. Trends will continue to be monitored in future forecasts, but for now given high uncertainty did not include in 12z issuance. LONG TERM /Tuesday through Friday/... As of 220 AM Mon...Expect primarily VFR conditions across ENC through the period. Iso showers and storms possible each afternoon, with chances below climo. && .MARINE... SHORT TERM /through Labor Day/... As of 250 AM Monday... Poor boating conditions ongoing across area waters this morning as pressure gradient remains pinched between wedge of high pressure building in from the north and stalled frontal boundary offshore. Northeast winds of 15-25 kt continue with a few gusts as high as 30 kt over the outer waters. This has kept seas elevated, currently at 6-8 feet across Raleigh Bay and waters north, and closer to 5-7 for Onslow Bay. Winds will subside gradually today, but still hover at around 20 kt sustained. Seas will not respond much, perhaps falling by a foot but little more. Did make manual adjustments upward for forecast seas north of Cape Hatteras given NWPS chronic underestimation of NE wind swell. SCA headlines were not changed from the previous forecast, apart from some modest adjustments to end times across soundside waters based on model guidance trends. LONG TERM /Tuesday through Friday/... As of 220 AM Mon...Breezy NE winds 10-20 kt will continue Tue, with gradient grad easing Tue night into Wed. SCA conditions will continue for the coastal waters Tue and Tue evening, with gusts to 25 kt and seas 4-7 ft. NE winds ease to 5-15 kt Wed with seas subsiding to 2-4 ft as high pressure ridges in from the north. Winds continue to remain light but gradually veer to the E-SE Thu and S-SW Fri as a cold front approaches from the west. Seas generally remain at 2-4 ft from Wed through late week. && .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... As of 220 AM Mon...Notable low pressure south of ENC, and strong high pressure over New England, will support persistent, and strengthening, northeasterly onshore flow along the OBX over the next few days. This should allow wave heights and periods to gradually build. At the peak, guidance suggests wave periods of 8-9 seconds by Tuesday. Normally this wouldn`t be concerning, but in light of the recent impact to dunes in the wake of Hurricane Erin, there is at least a low end risk of some minor coastal issues, mainly for portions of Ocracoke and Hatteras Islands. This would especially be the case by high tide (~3pm) on Tuesday as wave periods reach their peak. At this time, no headlines are planned, but we will continue to monitor water levels and trends in wave guidance to determine if a locally higher risk may develop. && .MHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NC...Beach Hazards Statement until 8 PM EDT this evening for NCZ196- 199-203>205. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 11 PM EDT this evening for AMZ131- 137-230-231. Small Craft Advisory until 2 AM EDT Tuesday for AMZ135. Small Craft Advisory until 2 PM EDT Tuesday for AMZ150. Small Craft Advisory until 8 PM EDT Tuesday for AMZ152-154. Small Craft Advisory until 5 PM EDT Tuesday for AMZ156-158. && $$ SYNOPSIS...MHX NEAR TERM...MS/CEB SHORT TERM...MS LONG TERM...CQD/RCF AVIATION...CQD/MS MARINE...CQD/OJC TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...MHX