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-- Discussion containing changed information from previous version are highlighted. --
000
FXUS61 KAKQ 070519
AFDAKQ

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Wakefield VA
1219 AM EST Sat Dec 7 2019

.SYNOPSIS...
-- Changed Discussion --
A cold front moves off the coast before sunrise. High pressure builds
into the area over the weekend. Low pressure tracks across the Great
Lakes region early next week, dragging a strong cold front across
the area Tuesday night. Canadian high pressure builds in on Thursday
before moving offshore by late Friday.
-- End Changed Discussion --

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TODAY/...
As of 945 PM EST Friday...

Late this evening, a cold front was pushing through nrn
VA/MD/DE. Also, sfc high pressure was building into the upper
Midwest. Latest radar showed very light showers moving across NE
NC. Otherwise, the sky ranged from partly cloudy to cloudy over
the CWA with temps ranging from the mid 40s to lower 50s.

The cold front will drop across the region overnight. Isolated
light showers will push SE of the area and off the coast in the
next few hours. Decreasing clouds from NW to SE overnight into
Sat morning. Winds become north allowing for some CAA to set
in. Lows by 12Z Sat mainly in the 30s except for lower 40s in
SE VA/NE NC.

&&

.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/...
As of 345 PM EST Friday...

Sunny but cool Sat as high pressure builds into the Northeast
CONUS and the sfc flow turns to the NNE. Not particularly cold
for early December (850 mb temps of -1 to -3C) with highs
ranging from the mid 40s N to the upper 40s S. Clear w/ light
winds Sat night as the high becomes centered over srn New
England, with sfc ridging extending SSW into our area. Given the
clear skies/light winds, went a bit cooler than model consensus
Sat night. Forecast lows are mainly in the mid 20s inland, with
low 30s across coastal SE VA/NE NC. The high pushes offshore of
the New England coast on Sun. This allows the sfc flow to
become SSE, veering to the WSW in the mid-levels. This will
allow WAA to commence on Sun. Deep-layer moisture starts to
increase during the latter half of the day on Sun as a series of
disturbances in WSW-SW flow aloft approach the local area (as a
trough aloft starts to amplify in the Rockies/High Plains). In
addition, a trough of low pressure develops at the sfc along the
Carolina coast by Sun evening. Milder Sun with highs ranging
from the upper 40s NW to the upper 50s SE.

Rain quickly develops/moves into the area Sun night from S to N
as a warm mid-level airmass overruns relatively cooler air near
the surface. This happens as the weak trough of low pressure
approaches from the S. PoPs of 30-50% during the evening
increase to 60-70% in most areas after 06z Mon. QPFs through 12z
Mon are mainly in the 0.1-0.25" range. Lows Monday morning
range from around 40F N to around 50F SE. Periods of showers
continue throughout the day on Mon as the first upper level
disturbance/area of sfc low pressure crosses the region. Models
are hinting at a (relative) lull in the pcpn across sern zones
during the latter half of the day on Mon, while numerous showers
move across northern/western portions of the CWA (w/ somewhat
of an in-situ wedge lingering across the Piedmont). Adjusted
PoPs to reflect this thinking (chc PoPs across SE VA/NE NC with
likely PoPs north/west from 18z Mon-00z Tue). Highs Mon range
from the low-mid 50s NW to the mid-upper 60s SE.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
As of 345 PM EST Friday...

The aforementioned trough aloft quickly amplifies across the
Midwest Mon night-Tue as strong sfc low pressure deepens as it
tracks from the Upper Midwest to SE Canada. A series of upper
disturbances (in SW flow aloft) will continue to track
toward/across the region through Tue as the associated cold
front slowly approaches from the W/NW. Strong WAA will continue
through Tue (850 mb temps rising to 8-11C by 12z Tue) under
deep-layered SW flow. With the area likely remaining in the warm
sector from Mon night-Tue, expect at least a chc of
(occasional) showers to continue from Mon night through the
first part of the day on Tue. Have PoPs in the 30-60% range for
the most part from 00-18z Tue, as most of the rain will remain
to our west through midday Tue (latest 12z/06 models are
slowing the eastward progression of the upper trough axis). Mild
Monday night with lows mainly in the 50s.

It is still looking like the frontal passage holds off until
sometime during the latter half of the day on Tue. As a result,
look for highs well into the 60s on Tuesday...with the potential
for some low 70s in Hampton Roads/NE NC. PoPs increase to 60-70%
by Tue aftn in all areas except for far SE VA/NE NC as the upper
trough axis continues to slowly move toward the region. The cold
front is progged to move S of the CWA by late Tue night, but
a long-duration light to moderate rain is expected to continue
before ending from NW to SE Wed AM (as the upper trough axis
finally approaches/crosses the region). As cooler air filters
into the region behind the front Tue night, the rain is expected
to change over to snow in areas to our NW (while a cold rain
continues across our CWA). Cannot rule out a brief changeover to
snow (or a rain/snow mix) closer to 12z Wed across our far NW
zones, but not expecting any impacts from snow that does fall
(temps remain above freezing). Additionally, 12z/06 EPS
probabilities of at least 1" of snow are only 10-20% across
Louisa/Fluvanna counties from Tue night-Wed AM. Lows Tue night
range from the mid 30s north/west to the low-mid 40s in SE
VA/NE NC.

It will be dry but colder from Wed aftn-Thu as strong high
pressure builds into the Great Lakes by midweek before quickly
migrating eastward. The high becomes centered near/over the
local area by Thursday evening. This will result in a short-
lived period of below average temperatures from Wed night-Thu
night, due to cold Canadian air sweeping across the region
behind the departing front. Forecast highs are mainly in the
mid-upper 40s on Wed (some readings around 50 across the SE),
Colder on Thu with highs ranging from the upper 30s-low 40s.
Lows Wed night/Thu night mainly in the 20s (although some teens
are possible across NW zones). Model consensus is forecasting
the high to move offshore of the New England Coast on Fri as low
pressure develops near the Gulf Coast. This low will likely
track across our region next weekend. However, it is looking
like any threat for impacts due to wintry precipitation will
likely remain N of the region (12z EPS probs for 1" of snow are
~0% across our CWA next weekend).

&&

.AVIATION /06Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
-- Changed Discussion --
As of 1220 AM EST Saturday...

A cold front pushes se overnight before moving offshore by 12Z. BKN
mid level cloud deck (6-10K FT) conts to push se over the next svrl
hrs. Winds shift to the NNE behind the fropa.

High pressure builds into the area today resulting in mainly SKC
conditions thru the weekend.

OUTLOOK...
Periods of showers dvlp late Sun night through Tue night, as low
pressure tracks well to our NW (which will drag a strong cold
front through the region). Degraded flight conditions are likely
during this time period (due to both CIGs/VSBYs).
-- End Changed Discussion --

&&

.MARINE...
As of 300 PM EST Friday...

SW winds are currently running 10-15 kt, except 15-25 kt with gusts
up to 30 kt off the lower Eastern Shore. These winds will continue
through the evening hours ahead of a cold front. Waves 1-2 ft; seas
2-4 ft (highest north). SCAs remain in effect north of Parramore
Island.

Winds become N/NW late tonight into early Saturday after the front
crosses the area waters. Winds increase to 15-20 kts in the bay with
gusts to 25 kts, and 20-25 kts with gusts to around 30 kts in the
coastal waters. Waves in the bay build to 2-4 ft and seas build to 3-
5 ft in the middle and northern coastal waters and 4-6 ft in the
southern coastal waters. SCA will be in effect for the bay, rivers,
coastal waters, and Currituck sound from early Saturday morning
through early Saturday afternoon, lingering into Saturday evening
for the southern coastal waters and Currituck sound.

Winds along with waves/seas will subside by late Saturday night as
the pressure gradient relaxes and high pressure builds into the area
for the remainder of the weekend.

&&

.AKQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
-- Changed Discussion --
MD...None.
NC...None.
VA...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 1 PM EST this afternoon for
     ANZ635>638-654.
     Small Craft Advisory until 1 PM EST this afternoon for
     ANZ630>632-634-650-652.
     Small Craft Advisory until 7 PM EST this evening for ANZ633-
     656-658.
-- End Changed Discussion --

&&

$$
SYNOPSIS...MPR?ERI
NEAR TERM...ERI/TMG
SHORT TERM...ERI/MPR
LONG TERM...ERI
AVIATION...MPR
MARINE...JDM