


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Newport/Morehead, NC
Issued by NWS Newport/Morehead, NC
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510 FXUS62 KMHX 171900 AFDMHX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC 300 PM EDT Tue Jun 17 2025 .SYNOPSIS... High pressure then builds in through Thursday with oppressive heat and humidity. A cold front moves through Thursday night. High pressure ridge builds back in late weekend through early next week with mainly dry conditions but dangerous heat and humidity. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 3 PM Tue...Moderate to strong (4,000-5,000 J/KG) instability has developed this afternoon. However, lack of appreciable lifting mechanism hasn`t allowed storms to realize the full potential of this instability, with as of yet the only lift occurring on the seabreeze. Further west, a subtle shortwave is moving east from ctrl NC and will move into ENC by this evening. A short window for marginally severe organized storms may come to fruition between 5-9pm as the shortwave is over the coastal plains. NCAR NN convective probs for severe wind are in the 15-20% range owing to a brief slight uptick in deep layer shear (~20 kt) this evening with the shortwave. Later this evening, any storms will diminish in coverage and should be storm-free after around midnight, with dry albeit very muggy conditions thereafter. Lows well above climo, in the mid 70s interior to 75-80 coast. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY/... As of 3 PM Tue...Main concern will shift to oppressive and potentially dangerous heat and humidity on Wed as building ridge brings increasing heat. With recent rains, the bndry layer will cont to be quite moist with high TD`s. Temps will be a couple degrees higher as well, and put areas of ENC in the 105 degree range for heat indices Wed afternoon, which is the criteria for heat advisory. Because heat index vals will be marginal, will let later shifts decide on heat headlines, but if temps and/or dewpoints are higher than they currently are, then a heat adv would likely be warranted. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 330AM Tue... Key Messages: - Impactful heat on Thursday. - Weakening cold front will bring a threat for a few isolated strong thunderstorms Thursday evening - Potential for dangerous heat indices late this weekend and into early next week Thu into early next week...Upper ridging will be anchored off the Southeast Coast on Wednesday with a neutrally tilted upper trough in the Plains progressing E`wards. Ridging should push further away from the coast on Thurs and Fri as the aforementioned upper trough continues E`wards and pushes into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. At the same time, mid level shortwave will push E`wards from the Plains and eventually track across the Carolinas and Mid-Atlantic Thurs night into Fri riding along this upper troughing. Troughing quickly pushes off the coast on Sat and is replaced by a "heat dome" as strong upper and surface ridging builds over the eastern half of the CONUS with this ridging not moving much through early next week once it becomes established. At the surface, low pressure in the Midwest will track NE`wards into eastern Canada on Thurs/Fri while its associated cold front tracks east eventually pushing into the Carolinas Thurs evening, finally pushing offshore Fri morning. Prior to the frontal passage, expect a chance for some isolated seabreeze thunderstorms just inland from the coast on Wed. Hot and humid conditions are also forecast across ENC on Wed and Thurs with temps each day reaching the low to mid 90s, with mid to upper 80s noted along the OBX and immediate coast. Combined with dewpoints in the 70s, heat indices across ENC will likely reach 100-110 each day bringing the first chance at seeing heat advisory criteria. Regardless of heat advisory issuance, given the extended period of hot and humid temps Wed/Thurs and lack of respite from the heat overnight Wed, there is a significant risk for heat related illnesses especially for those without proper cooling or adequate hydration. In addition to this, as the previously mentioned cold front approaches from the west on Thurs, a surface trough will develop along the Coastal Plain and allow for for organized thunderstorm activity to develop along out ahead of this front with precip chances quickly increasing from west to east Thurs evening. With hot and humid conditions in place, instability will build with SBCAPE values reaching 2000-3000 J/kg by Thurs afternoon. In addition to this, deep layer shear around 25-35 kts should promote a threat for some isolated strong to severe thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts and hail being the primary concern within the strongest storms. Afterwards front pushes offshore ending the shower and thunderstorm threat from west to east Fri morning. Upper and surface ridging builds over the Eastern CONUS and while Fri/Sat may be the coolest days of the week, dangerous heat returns to ENC Sun into Mon next week with the first significant heat wave potentially impacting the Eastern Seaboard during this timeframe. EFI probs do show anomalous heat and wouldn`t be surprised if we saw continued above Avg temps Sun/Mon. Daily sea breeze thunderstorm chances will be possible Fri/Sat and Sun. && .AVIATION /19Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... SHORT TERM /through Wednesday/... As of 2 PM Tue...Some afternoon convection has fired up mostly south of the terminals on the sea breeze. Some storms may progress further north, and additional storms may move in from the west late today into the evening, and for these reasons a PROB30`s for thunder remain in the fcst. Where TSRA develop, there will be a risk of 35+ kt winds, frequent lightning, small hail, and significant reductions to VIS in heavy rain (LIFR/IFR). By mid to late evening, threat for storms will wane with loss of daytime heating, and dry conditions will ensue late tonight. A lesser chance of sub VFR cigs late tonight due to winds remaining elevated and building high pres, so will not include sub VFR cigs in the forecast attm. LONG TERM /Wednesday night through Saturday/... As of 330AM Tue...Primarily VFR conditions expected across the terminals starting on Wed as a more summer like pattern returns to the area. A weak cold front will push through the area on Thursday evening, once again bringing a second brief threat for sub-VFR conditions and thunderstorm chances to ENC Thursday evening and overnight. Afterwards, ridging builds into the aera keeping any sub-VFR threat relegated to seabreeze thunderstorm activity each afternoon from Fri into the weekend. && .MARINE... SHORT TERM /through Wed/... As of 3 PM Tue...Swrly winds of 5-15 kt cont today and will be the case tonight. A few gusts to 25kt will be possible in the areas that are typically impacted by the strongest thermal gradient (Pamlico/Croatan/Roanoke sounds). On Wed, the thermal grad increases due to hotter pattern, and thus SCA winds are likely in the Pamlico/Croatan/Roanoke sounds as wind gusts approach 30 kt. Surrounding coastal waters will see winds as well, but a bit more marginal druing the afternoon tomorrow, so will hold off on headlines for the coastal waters attm. LONG TERM /Wednesday night though Saturday/... As of 330AM Tue... Then as we get into Thursday with the approach of a cold front the gradient pinches allowing for winds to once again increase to 15-25 kts across most waters this time. In addition to this, showers and thunderstorms will also be possible with the frontal passage Thurs night into Fri morning. This will bring multiple chances at SCA conditions both Wed and Thurs. Once front pushes offshore on Fri, winds ease for the weekend down to 5-10 kts becoming W-NW`rly behind the front Fri then S`rly by Sat evening as ridging builds into the area. Seas remain around 3-5 ft through the period. && .MHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NC...Beach Hazards Statement until 8 PM EDT this evening for NCZ195- 196. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from noon Wednesday to 4 AM EDT Thursday for AMZ135. Small Craft Advisory from 2 PM Wednesday to midnight EDT Wednesday night for AMZ231. && $$ SYNOPSIS...MHX NEAR TERM...TL SHORT TERM...TL LONG TERM...RCF/OJC AVIATION...TL/RCF MARINE...TL/RCF