Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Wilmington, NC

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527 FXUS62 KILM 020931 AFDILM Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wilmington NC 531 AM EDT Thu May 2 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Dry and warm today and Friday. Scattered showers and storms are expected throughout the weekend. Another round of showers and storms is expected Monday and early Tuesday. Turning hot and dry during the middle of next week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Patchy fog, some of it dense, is starting to develop across the area. Think a Dense Fog Advisory will be needed at some point in the next 1-2 hours, but waiting to see a bit more fog development. The lack of widespread dense fog with calm winds across the forecast area the last few hours has lowered confidence a bit. Any fog that does develop will dissipate around 9AM. Weak high building in from the northwest this morning is replaced by Bermuda High expanding back into the area during the day. Weak gradient will keep wind speeds light. Light winds and temperatures above climo will allow afternoon sea breeze development. Minimal cloud cover today with deep, dry air overhead and no rain chances. Skies remain clear overnight with light to calm winds and increased boundary layer moisture once again leading to development of fog after midnight. Lows will continue to run about 5 degrees above climo. && .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... Warm and dry on Friday as the mid level ridge gradually starts to push offshore. Increased moisture and weaker subsidence on Saturday will bring better rain chances as a weak frontal boundary approaches the area from the west. Increasing cloud cover will keep temperatures in the low to mid 80s inland. Modest instability will lead to the development of afternoon showers and storms. Sea breeze may also produce isolated showers and storms, but instability will be weaker along the coast and SE winds will push the sea breeze toward the inland front. An approaching shortwave will maintain shower chances overnight as elevated instability remains. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Stalled front over central NC/SC on Sunday will produce a similar forecast on Sunday with expanded shower and storm chances near the coast. The front mostly dissipates on Monday, but an approaching shortwave on Monday will bring another round of showers and thunderstorms, especially inland. Maintaining a very warm forecast on Tuesday and Wednesday. Guidance is producing lower 90s on Wednesday and mid 90s on Thursday. Conditions at this stage do not appear ideal for near record-breaking warmth. Therefore, latest forecast is below guidance as and reflects a gradual trend toward warming temperatures. Forecast reflects near 90 on Wednesday and lower 90s on Thursday; SW winds mean that areas close to the coast may not get the relief of an afternoon sea breeze. && .AVIATION /10Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... Mix of VFR to IFR visibility across the area with a few IFR ceilings as well. All terminals will trend to IFR visibility during the next several hours with potential for widespread dense fog lingering through 14-15Z. Once fog mixes out VFR will dominate with minimal cloud cover in the area today. Winds will veer from northeast in the morning to south-southeast in the afternoon, with a weak sea breeze leading to somewhat stronger onshore flow near the coast. Speeds will remain under 10 kt across the area. Extended Outlook... Generally VFR through the period outside of early morning mist/low cigs from Friday through Sunday. Flight restrictions possible Saturday through Monday. && .MARINE... Through Tonight... Weak gradient this morning will lead to light and variable winds across the waters. Bermuda High builds back in from the east today with light southerly flow developing around midday. Speeds will remain under 10 kt today and tonight, with potential for gusts around 10 kt in the afternoon near shore. Seas will be 2 ft or less with a southerly wind wave being dominant. Friday through Monday Night... Bermuda high will maintain southerly winds between around 10 knots this weekend, increasing early next week as winds turn S and SSW. Seas 1-2 feet through the end of the weekend. Increasing with slightly higher winds and easterly swell early next week to 2-3 feet. && .ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
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NC...Dense Fog Advisory until 9 AM EDT this morning for NCZ087-096- 099-105>110. SC...Dense Fog Advisory until 9 AM EDT this morning for SCZ017-023- 024-032-033-039-054>056-058-059. MARINE...None.
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&& $$ SYNOPSIS...ILM NEAR TERM...III SHORT TERM...21 LONG TERM...21 AVIATION...III MARINE...III/21