Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Charleston, WV
Issued by NWS Charleston, WV
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878 FXUS61 KRLX 052316 AFDRLX AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Charleston WV 616 PM EST Fri Dec 5 2025 .SYNOPSIS... A low pressure system departs, and High pressure briefly brings drier weather through Saturday night. A series of disturbances cross the region Sunday and into next week, bringing multiple chances of rain and snow to the area. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 100 PM Friday... As low pressure moves away toward the East Coast, snow has largely ended over the CWA, though a few mountain snow showers likely linger. High pressure sliding by south of the CWA tonight into Saturday will bring dry weather to the area and will allow SW`ly winds to develop and push milder air into the region. Highs will range from mid-40s in the south to upper 30s in southeast Ohio for the lowlands, and 30s in the mountains. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/... As of 115 PM Friday... After our brief break, the active and unsettled pattern will continue, with our next clipper disturbance slated to come through later Sunday and Sunday night, with a bit of light snow possibly lingering into Monday, mainly in the mountains. The current forecast thinking would have lower elevation temps be warm enough for rain for later Sunday into the first part of Sunday night, with a gradual change to snow overnight. The clipper`s cold front will likely push through Sunday evening, but the best of the cold air won`t start to filter through until around or after midnight. As a result, the forecast snowfall for most of the area is under an inch, with some slightly higher amounts in the mountains. Precip should dissipate or depart to the east early Monday night. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... As of 135 PM Friday... Once that system clears out, Tuesday looks likely to be dry, though some guidance hints at a weak wave crossing the eastern Great Lakes bringing a touch of snow to the northern tier of the CWA, so we worked with neighbors to put in Slight Chance POPs along the northern border. The main attention in this period will be for the second half of next week, as a potent system digs southeastward from the northern Plains into the lower Great Lakes and central Appalachians. The initial shot of precipitation ahead of and with the front arrives during the day on Wednesday, and based on the current temperature forecast would be mostly rain in the lowlands and start as snow or a mix in the mountains. Once the potent front pushes through by Wednesday evening, temperatures will start to drop and allow some snow in the lower elevations. Guidance is still a bit split on the details of any follow-on disturbances and the impact of potential lake-enhanced moisture, but it currently looks like there could at least be periods of snow continuing through Thursday and possible into Friday. After being a bit milder Tuesday and Wednesday ahead of the front, with lowland highs in the 40s, high temperatures will drop back into the 20s and 30s to end the week. && .AVIATION /00Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... As of 615 PM Friday... Precipitation is largely wrapping up with maybe a lingering snow shower or patchy freezing drizzle cropping up at times across the mountains. MVFR and IFR ceilings will continue across the area tonight with ceilings gradually lowering throughout the night from where they are now, especially at BKW, CRW, CKB, and EKN. Mist and fog will likely develop at these sites as well due to lingering low- level moisture and low ceilings. Freezing fog is possible at BKW and EKN as a result and have added it a few hours after ~00z when temperatures close the dew point depression and winds will be at their most calm. IFR conditions will gradually improve after ~12z Saturday, but MVFR will be difficult to get rid of until late afternoon. Any VFR would be short lived as MVFR and IFR are expected to return Saturday night into Sunday, especially across the northern lowlands and mountains. S-SW winds will be light to calm overnight, and will gradually pick up out of the WSW by mid-morning Saturday. FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY... FORECAST CONFIDENCE: High. ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Ceilings could bounce between MVFR and IFR at multiple sites overnight. Freezing fog may be more widespread than advertised. EXPERIMENTAL TABLE OF FLIGHT CATEGORY OBJECTIVELY SHOWS CONSISTENCY OF WFO FORECAST TO AVAILABLE MODEL INFORMATION: H = HIGH: TAF CONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL. M = MEDIUM: TAF HAS VARYING LEVEL OF CONSISTENCY WITH MODELS. L = LOW: TAF INCONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL. UTC 1HRLY 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 EST 1HRLY 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 CRW CONSISTENCY H H H H M M M H H H H H HTS CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H M M M BKW CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H H EKN CONSISTENCY H H H H L M M M M M M H PKB CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H H CKB CONSISTENCY H H H H M M H H H H M H AFTER 00Z SUNDAY... IFR conditions possible Saturday night into Sunday morning with low ceilings. Next chances for rain/snow will be Sunday. && .RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WV...None. OH...None. KY...None. VA...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...FK NEAR TERM...FK SHORT TERM...FK LONG TERM...FK AVIATION...LTC