Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Sterling, VA

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000 FXUS61 KLWX 221801 AFDLWX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 201 PM EDT Mon Apr 22 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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High pressure will build overhead tonight, before departing off to the east tomorrow. A cold front will move through Wednesday, before high pressure builds back in for the end of the week.
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&& .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
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Skies remain mostly sunny this afternoon, with just a few fair weather cumulus present. Temperatures have climbed into the upper 50s and lower 60s, and should climb a few degrees further before reaching the high temperatures for the day in the low-mid 60s. Winds are generally light out of the northwest. High pressure will build overhead tonight. Wind will go calm beneath the high, and clear skies are expected. This will create ideal conditions for radiational cooling. As a result, another chilly night is expected, with temperatures dropping back into the 30s for most. The exceptions will be the ridgetops, as well as downtown DC and Baltimore, which will stay in the 40s. Freeze Warnings are in effect tonight for the Central Shenandoah Valley, as well as portions of the Potomac Highlands. Frost Advisories are in effect for much of the rest of the forecast area. The exceptions are the Alleghenies (where the growing season hasn`t started yet), as well as St. Mary`s and Calvert Counties, where temperatures are expected to stay in the upper 30s to around 40.
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&& .SHORT TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
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High pressure will progress offshore tomorrow, which will cause winds to turn out of the south. This will result in a warming trend, with temperatures climbing into the upper 60s to low 70s beneath mostly sunny skies. A shortwave will track southeastward from the Great Lakes toward the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Tuesday night. It will be a rather moisture starved system, so precipitation totals are expected to be light. A few showers will be possible across the area, especially late Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning. The system`s cold front will move through Wednesday morning, causing winds to turn northwesterly in its wake. Gusts out of the northwest to around 20-30 mph will be possible during the afternoon hours Wednesday. A stray shower or thunderstorm can`t be ruled out behind the cold front/beneath the upper trough axis Wednesday afternoon, but most locations should remain dry. High temperatures on Wednesday are expected to be in the upper 60s to near 70. Strong cold advection will ensue in north to northwesterly flow Wednesday night. As a result, temperatures are forecast to drop into the upper 30s and lower 40s by daybreak. If some locations were to decouple, temperatures could drop even further, potentially leading to additional frost/freeze concerns. However, the expectation at this time is for winds to remain up, thereby minimizing the threat for frost/freeze.
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&& .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
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Dry conditions return Thursday into Friday with high pressure building into the region. The next chance for precipitation approaches Friday night into Saturday as a warm front associated with a surface low over the Midwest moves in from the southwest. As it stands, along and west of the I-81 corridor has the best chance at seeing precipitation Saturday, but primarily upslope showers are expected with some spilling over the mountains. A lull in shower activity occurs Saturday night, followed by a similar upslope setup on Sunday, but with higher PoPs making it a bit further east. Thunderstorms are possible both afternoons, with the greater potential for thunder on Sunday. Thursday and Friday will be cooler, but gradually warming to near normal by Saturday. Sunday looks significantly warmer behind the warm front with forecast highs currently in the 70s to low 80s.
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&& .AVIATION /18Z MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
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VFR conditions are expected through Tuesday. Northwesterly winds are expected this afternoon, before winds go calm tonight. Southerly winds are expected tomorrow, with gusts to around 15-20 knots during the afternoon. A few showers may be possible Tuesday night into Wednesday as a cold front crosses the area. Winds will turn northwesterly behind the front on Wednesday, with gusts to around 20-25 knots possible Wednesday afternoon. VFR conditions are expected Thursday and Friday with high pressure in place yielding dry conditions. Could still see some clouds on Thursday with onshore flow and gusty winds 15-20 kt early Thursday morning diminish by the afternoon. Winds become gusty and more S/SE by Friday afternoon and clouds increase through the day with an approaching warm front.
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&& .MARINE...
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Winds are relatively weak, but erratic with respect to direction this afternoon. However, there have been a few gusts here and there to around 15-20 knots from varying directions. Winds will turn southerly tomorrow and gradually pick up through the day. A cold front will move over the waters on Wednesday, causing winds to turn northwesterly. SCAs will likely be needed Wednesday into Wednesday night. SCAs may be needed early Thursday morning with departing low pressure and again Friday afternoon and evening with an approaching warm front.
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&& .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
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Anomalies are just above one foot currently and will hover there through Tuesday. While flooding appears unlikely during this time, sensitive locations could be close. Southerly winds will drive an increase in anomalies Tuesday night, and this appears the most likely time for some locations to experience minor flooding. NW winds Wednesday will push water levels back down.
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&& .LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... DC...Frost Advisory from 2 AM to 8 AM EDT Tuesday for DCZ001. MD...Frost Advisory from 2 AM to 8 AM EDT Tuesday for MDZ003>006- 008-011-013-014-016-503>508. VA...Frost Advisory from 2 AM to 8 AM EDT Tuesday for VAZ028-030- 031-036>040-050-051-053>057-501-502-505>508-526-527. Freeze Warning from 2 AM to 8 AM EDT Tuesday for VAZ025>027- 029. WV...Frost Advisory from 2 AM to 8 AM EDT Tuesday for WVZ051>053. Freeze Warning from 2 AM to 8 AM EDT Tuesday for WVZ050-055. MARINE...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...KJP NEAR TERM...KJP SHORT TERM...KJP LONG TERM...CAS AVIATION...KJP/CAS MARINE...KJP/CAS TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...ADS

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