


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Melbourne, FL
Issued by NWS Melbourne, FL
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835 FXUS62 KMLB 290744 AFDMLB Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Melbourne FL 344 AM EDT Fri Aug 29 2025 ...New KEY MESSAGES, DISCUSSION, MARINE... .KEY MESSAGES... Issued at 340 AM EDT Fri Aug 29 2025 - Greater coverage of rain and lightning storms into the weekend, bringing the potential for localized flooding, gusty winds, and frequent lightning strikes - A moderate rip current risk exists at local beaches from Cape Canaveral northward today - Temperatures will remain near or slightly below normal, especially into the first half of next week && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 340 AM EDT Fri Aug 29 2025 Today-Tonight...Weak onshore flow remains at the coast early this morning with light and variable surface winds farther inland. A nearly stationary front is analyzed across northern Florida with high pressure centered over the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley. 500mb ridging is very slowly being suppressed by a deepening trough over the eastern U.S. The main story today, as will be for the next several days, is increased rain and lightning storm chances. As temperatures climb into the mid and upper 80s by lunchtime, the east coast sea breeze will be developing. Hi-res models do a decent job showing the evolution of the sea breeze, perhaps pushing inland a bit faster north of Cape Canaveral and across southern portions of the Treasure Coast (aided by convective outflow). While coastal showers and storms will trend inland through late afternoon, increasing deep westerlies are anticipated to push convection back toward the Atlantic coast this evening (especially south of Orlando/Cape Canaveral). This will give many locations across east central Florida the opportunity for some measurable rainfall. Global models show a slight cooling of 500mb temps this afternoon (-6C to -7C). In addition, CAMs depict favorable moisture/instability and similar low-mid level lapse rates as yesterday, 8C/km and 6C/km, respectively. Storms that become organized will be capable of strong gusty winds (45-55 mph), frequent lightning strikes, and torrential rainfall. Per usual, we will also be monitoring boundary collisions for any brief rotation. MRMS QPE over the last 72 hours shows a few swaths of 3-5" of accumulated rainfall, namely over much of coastal Volusia and Brevard counties, extending west toward Orange and Osceola counties. A third maxima exists across inland portions of the Treasure Coast and Okeechobee County. Many of these same spots will be at risk for locally heavy rain again today (1-3+"), so minor flooding of roadways and low-lying/poorly-drained areas is possible. If you encounter a flooded roadway, turn around and find an alternate route. Saturday-Sunday...Deeper moisture return gradually overspreads the area this weekend as a mid/upper trough extends into south-central Florida. The quasi-stationary front over north Florida is forecast to sag slowly southward toward Volusia/Lake county and effectively stay there through Sunday. As the 500mb trough axis centers itself over the eastern seaboard, several pieces of energy will rotate around its base and over east central Florida. Increased dynamical support will promote higher coverage of showers and lightning storms, especially in the afternoon and evening hours. Model guidance indicates more of a "skinny CAPE" SKEW-T profile as PW climb near/above 2" areawide. As a result, locally heavy rainfall is forecast both days with the potential for minor flooding impacts, especially in areas where soils are becoming increasingly saturated. A Marginal Risk for excessive rainfall outlines most of ECFL Saturday and all of the area by Sunday. HREF probabilities in any given area are around 10-20% for exceeding 2" of rainfall but as high as 40% where repeated rounds of rain occur over successive days. In addition to rainfall, water-loaded downdrafts could produce wind gusts up to 50-55 mph, frequent lightning will accompany organized storms, and boundary collisions may lead to brief, isolated instances of rotation (funnel cloud/tornado). Temperatures over the weekend trend closer to normal, reaching the upper 80s to around 90 degrees during the day and low to mid 70s overnight. With rain and storms in the forecast this holiday weekend, be sure to head indoors at the first sign of lightning/thunder. Additionally, locally heavy rain can reduce driving visibility and lead to street flooding. Remember to turn around if a roadway is impassable due to flooding. Monday-Thursday...It will take some time for the rainy and stormy pattern to break heading into next week. This is due in part to a reinforced mid/upper trough over the central/eastern CONUS through midweek. A deepening upper low over the Upper Midwest is forecast to sweep eastward across the Great Lakes Region Wednesday and Thursday, dragging a strong cold front across the eastern U.S. The stationary front left over the area this weekend will remain in place through mid week. By Thursday, influenced by the cold front pushing southward, this front will begin to dissipate and allow drier air to work into north-central Florida. Until then, higher than normal rain chances are forecast through at least Tuesday (perhaps even Wednesday). Heavy rains from previous days, combined with additional heavy rainfall, will continue to prop up the flooding threat into next week. The St. Johns River Basin, receiving daily rain input, may result in Astor staying in at least Action Stage for a longer period of time. Highs trend a couple degrees cooler, too, only reaching the mid to upper 80s. Overnight lows will settle into the low/mid 70s. && .MARINE... Issued at 340 AM EDT Fri Aug 29 2025 A stationary front to the north of the waters will begin to sag southward today, bisecting the local Atlantic by early next week. For today and Saturday, light winds gradually turn onshore each afternoon as the east coast breeze develops. Along and north of the front from Sunday into next week, winds turn predominantly ENE, 10-15 kt. Seas remain generally 2-3 ft through Sunday (locally higher in and around storms), climbing up to 2-4 ft (5 ft offshore) early next week. Above normal rain and storm chances will last through at least next Tuesday, with higher coverage in the evening and overnight hours as inland storms push offshore. && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFs) Issued at 115 AM EDT Fri Aug 29 2025 Convection finally pushing away from the coast and across the adjacent Atlc waters early in the period. Remainder of night should be mainly dry. L/V winds thru the morning, once again, then transitioning onshore along the coast early in the afternoon and trending inland. Will see ISOLD/SCT convection along inland moving sea breeze with coverage/intensity increasing thru late aftn and evening into the interior with additional boundary collisions. SWRLY steering flow a bit stronger than this past day and should see showers/storms pushing back to the coast and offshore thru the evening again. Have initiated some TEMPO groups I-4 corridor for Fri afternoon/early evening, with "Vicinity" wording for coastal locations. Will consider additional TEMPO groups here at a later time. TEMPO MVFR CIGs/VSBYs invof convection, otherwise mainly VFR. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DAB 87 74 87 74 / 60 60 80 40 MCO 91 74 90 74 / 60 60 80 30 MLB 89 75 89 74 / 60 60 80 40 VRB 91 73 91 73 / 60 60 80 40 LEE 90 74 88 74 / 60 30 80 30 SFB 90 74 89 74 / 60 60 80 30 ORL 91 75 89 74 / 60 60 80 30 FPR 91 72 91 72 / 60 60 80 40 && .MLB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...None. AM...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Schaper AVIATION...Sedlock