


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Raleigh/Durham, NC
Issued by NWS Raleigh/Durham, NC
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344 FXUS62 KRAH 160555 AFDRAH Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Raleigh NC 155 AM EDT Wed Jul 16 2025 .SYNOPSIS... Sub-tropical high pressure will extend from near Bermuda to the Carolinas throughout the week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 155 AM Wednesday... Lower chance of PM storms, but remaining hot and humid. The highest moisture levels will gradually shift a bit west and north today with the upper ridge building in the southeast U.S. from off the SW Atlantic. This should limit the convection to widely scattered PM activity. The highest probabilities will be along the SE Coastal Plain (sea breeze) and tucked up along the Blue Ridge. Highs will be in the upper 80s to lower 90s with partly to mostly sunny afternoon skies. Lows generally in the lower 70s west and mid 70s east. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/... As of 148 PM Tuesday... * Slightly lower storm chances on Wednesday * Still hot and humid Areal coverage of showers and storms should be a bit less on Wednesday as upper ridging strengthens across the area. This will push the highest PW values into the western Piedmont, once again making them the primary focal area for shower and thunderstorm development with somewhat lesser coverage elsewhere. Sea breeze initiated convection is possible across the southern Coastal Plain, with the center part of the state potentially seeing fewer storms than others. This areal coverage is supported by the 12Z HREF and other hi-res guidance, and closely resembles the inherited forecast as well as NBM. Temperatures should be a bit warmer than those seen today, with highs reaching the low to mid 90s. Overnight lows once again falling into the low to mid 70s. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 148 PM Tuesday... * Diurnal showers/storms possible each day through the extended period. * Hot and humid conditions expected each day, with potentially dangerous heat this weekend. Thursday and Friday, high pressure will move westward off the Atlantic Ocean into the southeast United States. This should somewhat limit the diurnally induced showers/storms over central North Carolina, especially closer to the center of the high pressure in the southeast portions of the CWA. Saturday should have increasing diurnal rain chances as a shortwave trough looks like it could reach the region from the north. Sunday through Tuesday should return to riding over the region, however there does not appear to be a large change in airmass so diurnal shower/storm chances remain until at least mid-week. Temperatures will be above normal for the extended period. Maximum temperatures look to be in the low to mid 90s each day of the long term period, with the potential for temperatures in the upper 90s in the warmest spots in the south Friday through Sunday. This will combine with high humidity values to increase heat indices to potentially dangerous levels. The maximum heat indices may be near or above 100 degrees for much of central North Carolina for the majority of the long term. Heat advisory apparent temperature criteria (105 to 109 degrees) may be met this weekend for eastern portions of central North Carolina. && .AVIATION /06Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 150 AM Wednesday... Model guidance continues to indicate the potential for areas of low stratus to develop between 08Z to 12z, leading to a period of MVFR to IFR restrictions. These restrictions should lift by mid to late Wednesday morning (13 to 15z), returning conditions to VFR. Shower and storm coverage is expected to be lower this afternoon and evening. The best chances should focused along the inland-moving seabreeze, possibly impacting the eastern terminals late day (KRWI and KFAY). Outlook: Sub-tropical high pressure over the western Atlantic will support a typical summertime pattern of isolated to scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms, along with patchy late night and early morning fog and stratus through the end of the week. && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...Badgett/MWS NEAR TERM...Badgett SHORT TERM...Leins LONG TERM...Helock AVIATION...Badgett