Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Burlington, VT

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000 FXUS61 KBTV 301358 AFDBTV Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Burlington VT Issued by National Weather Service Caribou ME 958 AM EDT Tue Apr 30 2024 .SYNOPSIS... After isolated to scattered showers with a lower probability of a thunderstorm this morning, shower chances increase with additional chances of thunderstorms as a front sweeps through the North Country this afternoon and early evening. Periods of moderate rain are expected which could lead to ponding in poor drainage areas and minor field flooding. Weaker troughs will bring additional chances of showers later this week, but overall conditions will be calmer with mild temperatures. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
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9:55 a.m. update...A few thunderstorms are moving through the southern portion of the forecast area but these have weakened this morning as the boundary moves further south. Winds in these thunderstorms have been gusting up to 30 mph. Some small hail was reported closer to Albany, but we have had no hail reports over northern New York or Vermont this morning. Forecast has been updated to reflect current temps but otherwise remains on track. Previous Discussion...Early morning thunderstorm chances have increased with a ribbon of elevated instability along a relative warm front moving through the Mohawk Valley into portions of the Adirondacks and southern Vermont. CAMs may be a little underdone, but do show weakening of instability towards the morning hours. Still, can`t completely rule out a rare thunderstorm especially in the Adirondacks and across southern Vermont through sunrise. Currently, best chances are in the Star Lake/Tupper Lake areas and just across the St Lawrence River in Canada. This will track eastward-northeastward while the main line of convection will continue in the Mohawk Valley through Bennington County, Vermont. Portions of Rutland County may see a stray thunderstorm 6-8am, but stability is definitely higher north of this feature right now. By late morning, showers will become increasingly isolated with the North Country mainly in the warm sector of this weaker variety system. Still high PWATs will be streaming across the region supporting moderate to briefly heavy rain showers for the afternoon. Convective chances will generally be isolated and tied to the front as it tracks west to east, but any clearing will aid in destabilizing low levels. While expected to be mostly cloudy, there are enough cloud breaks in satellite imagery to suggest some areas could conditionally warm enough to boost low level CAPE enough for some heavy rainers and marginally stronger thunderstorms. Therefore, have included a mention of small hail and potential for heavy rain during max heating hours with any cells just ahead of the front - roughly 2-7PM across northern New York and Western/Central Vermont. Precipitation chances diminish behind the front tonight and Wednesday, but kept some chances of showers with relatively mild temperatures and upslope flow continuing. Temperatures will range from the 40s overnight into the upper 50s/low-mid 60s for Wednesday.
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&& .SHORT TERM /THURSDAY/... As of 329 AM EDT Tuesday...An weak shortwave drops down into the region from Canada on Wednesday night into Thursday, leading to some showers, particularly in northern areas. Overall, QPF should be minimal with under a tenth of an inch expected. The showers will move out in the afternoon and there should at least be a little clearing. 925 mb temperatures generally will be between 8-12 celsius and as the showers move out, the boundary layer should eventually mix that high. This would support highs in the 60s to possibly lower 70s. There should be a decent north to south temperature gradient as well as there will be lower 925 mb temperatures and more showers/clouds to the north. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/... As of 329 AM EDT Tuesday...Brief ridging builds in on Friday, leading to dry weather and a few breaks in the clouds. The ridge looks to break down on Saturday as an occluded front makes its way into the region and brings some rain. There is still high model uncertainty with the details of its passage so kept PoPs mostly chance for now. Right now, the most likely scenario looks to be the front moving slowly across the region and bringing only some scattered showers on Saturday. Overall, the front should be falling apart as it moves through and the QPF looks quite unimpressive, with less than a third of ensemble members even bringing a quarter inch of rain to any part of the region. A few members are suggesting that a low will develop along the front and enhance the rainfall but those solutions currently look to be the outliers. The trailing cold front looks to move through around Monday and it may bring a few more showers. Despite several fronts moving through during the time period, temperatures look to be relatively consistent. Highs should generally be in the 60s to around 70 while lows should generally be in the 40s and 50s. && .AVIATION /14Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... Through 12Z Wednesday...An elongated line of thunderstorms stretching southwest to northeast is moving towards RUT with tempo TS 12-14Z. Lightning, small hail, and gusts less than 30kts are primary threats. Elsewhere, conditions are calmer with more stable showers across northeastern Vermont that will move off of EFK into its vicinity through 15Z. CIGs will begin to lower in earnest 15-20Z as cloud cover increases with LCLs fairly low. Heating this afternoon may create more thunderstorms especially in portions of northern New York and central/southern Vermont. Then, along/behind the front CIGs will continue to lower with no appreciable dry air to scour low level moisture. MVFR chances continue through 03Z, then IFR CIG potential increases for all terminals. RUT may keep some southeast flow overnight which could favor a delay in lowering CIGs, but the weakening pressure gradient suggests potential for IFR by 6z. Outlook... Wednesday: Mainly MVFR, with local IFR possible. Slight chance SHRA. Wednesday Night: Mainly VFR, with areas MVFR possible. NO SIG WX. Thursday: Mainly VFR, with areas MVFR possible. Slight chance SHRA. Thursday Night: Mainly VFR, with local MVFR possible. Slight chance SHRA. Friday: Mainly VFR, with areas MVFR possible. Slight chance SHRA. Friday Night: Mainly VFR, with local MVFR possible. Slight chance SHRA. Saturday: Mainly MVFR, with areas VFR possible. Chance SHRA. && .BTV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VT...None. NY...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...Boyd NEAR TERM...LF SHORT TERM...Myskowski LONG TERM...Myskowski AVIATION...Boyd