Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Charleston, WV
Issued by NWS Charleston, WV
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966 FXUS61 KRLX 202146 AFDRLX AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Charleston WV 446 PM EST Thu Nov 20 2025 .SYNOPSIS... Chances of rain tonight into Friday, continuing into Saturday. A more potent system arrives possibly Tuesday. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 9 PM THIS EVENING/... As of 445 PM Thursday... Updated the forecast to reflect the faster timing of rain arriving based on the latest radar trends. As of 1225 PM Thursday... Drier conditions continue across the area today, however it remains rather gloomy, as ample moisture remains trapped beneath an inversion. This should generally linger for the near term period, with some improvement in visibility and cloud height this afternoon and evening before lowering again tonight. Temperatures overnight will remain rather mild owing to the cloud cover. On Friday, a warm frontal boundary associated with a low pressure system that develops in response to a shortwave across the southern U.S. will move into the area, with showers and thunderstorms developing. This should be yet another good soaking rain across much of the region, with high moisture content air streaming into the region, with PW values progged to be anomalously high for this time of year, generally 1.2 to 1.3 inches. Heavier rains at this time look to be far northern zones/just north of the area, as a low pressure wave rides east along the frontal boundary Friday evening. Threat for severe looks to be rather low owing to a lack of decent instability/cape. Precipitation will gradually taper off late Friday into Saturday as shortwave energy crosses and a front sweeps across the area, but precipitation may linger across southern zones as another low pressure wave moves through on Saturday. && .SHORT TERM /9 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... As of 1225 PM Thursday... Precipitation will gradually taper off late Friday into Saturday as shortwave energy crosses and a front sweeps across the area, but precipitation may linger across southern zones as another low pressure wave moves through on Saturday. Otherwise, a gradual drying trend will take hold for later Saturday into Sunday as high pressure builds into the region. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 1225 PM Thursday... Monday looks to be continued dry, and warmer, as high pressure remains in control, and upper heights build across the area in response to an approaching system/trough. Focus then shifts to Tuesday into Wednesday next week, with indications for a potent low to develop across the southwest U.S., eventually lifting northeast towards the area. Strengthening winds associated with this system will help to draw ample moisture from the Gulf region towards our CWA, with another soaking rain expected. && .AVIATION /21Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 1225 PM Thursday... Widespread MVFR and areas of IFR ceilings continue to linger across the area. Some improvement is expected this afternoon to widespread MVFR, with areas of VFR possible across southern WV and SW Virginia. However, overnight, conditions are expected to deteriorate again, with widespread IFR developing again. There is also the possibility, that areas of LIFR or worse could develop in fog or low stratus, but confidence is lower in that at this time, but may need to be added in future TAF issuances. Rain moves back into the area Friday morning, with IFR restrictions possible in rain. FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY... FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Low. ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing of improving ceilings Thursday afternoon and evening may vary. Uncertainty exists in extent of restrictions in fog and/or low stratus tonight, with worse conditions possible than currently forecast. 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 H H H H H H M M HTS CONSISTENCY H H M H H M M H H L L L BKW CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H H EKN CONSISTENCY M H H H H H H H H H H H PKB CONSISTENCY M H H H H M H H L M L L CKB CONSISTENCY H M H H M M M M M L L L AFTER 00Z SATURDAY... Areas of IFR in rain possible Friday into early Saturday. && .RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WV...None. OH...None. KY...None. VA...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...SL NEAR TERM...RPY/SL SHORT TERM...SL LONG TERM...SL AVIATION...SL