Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Wilmington, NC

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000 FXUS62 KILM 131040 AFDILM Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wilmington NC 640 AM EDT Sat Apr 13 2024 .SYNOPSIS... High pressure will build across the area this weekend and will persist thru the mid-week period of next week. Look for seasonable temps today, slightly milder Sun, followed by a noticeable warming trend next week, with widespread 80s each work-day except cooler at the beaches. An approaching cold front late next week will bring our next chance for rain. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Water vapor imagery shows upper trough currently moving across the Northeast. The trough will move offshore early today, with decent NVA and downslope flow behind it for today. Combination will keep skies clear and high temps in the low to mid 70s. Strong subsidence and deep mixing will also lead to low RHs (20-25%) this afternoon as dewpoints in the low 30s, possibly upper 20s, are mixed down. While weakening, winds will remain a bit gusty today, with highest gusts across southeast NC with 25+ mph gusts will be possible. Thus increased fire danger conditions are expected today across southeast NC. At the surface, high pressure will begin building in from the southwest this afternoon, with its center moving south of the area tonight. Calm and clear conditions in store for tonight with lows in the upper 40s, with mid 40s in traditional cold spots. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/... This time frame will feature a true warming trend, with near 80 highs for Sun and well into the 80s for Mon (except cooler at the immediate coastline). Ridging aloft to dominate the short term while at the sfc, center of high pressure will park itself well offshore from the SE States Coast. Docile winds start the day Sun, but developing Lee side trof will result in an increase to the pg with SW winds becoming gusty Sun aftn/evening. Winds will stay active Sun night with lows somewhat uniform in the 50s to around 60 across the FA. Mon will feature a backdoor cold front dropping south, with models now taking just across the VA-NC border late Mon. Some compressional heating under downslope flow will boost highs well into the 80s. Moisture limited to clouds but no pcpn expected. Winds diminish-some Mon night with lows likely holding in the 60s. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... Widespread 80s highs to remain a mainstay thru the upcoming work-week. Stalled sfc front just north of the FA at the start of this period, will lift back to the north Tue-Wed as the upper ridge axis becomes situated nearly overhead or just east of the FA. The parked center of sfc high well offshore from the SE States will continue its influence across the FA with SW winds becoming active again as the sfc pg tightens-some especially late Tue thru head of an approaching and eventually passage of a cold front. Moisture does scour-some as it crosses the Appalachians given the westerly flow aloft. But will have to watch the embedded s/w trof accompanying it which could ignite shower activity. Some slightly max temps for Fri when compared with the previous 4 days but should eclipse 80 most locations away from the beaches. Next cold front approaches the FA late Fri. && .AVIATION /12Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
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VFR. Clear skies. West-northwest winds will be a bit breezy today, with gusts of 20-25 kts forecasted for much of the day (infrequent higher gusts possible at southeast NC terminals). Winds go near calm tonight as high pressure becomes centered to our south. Extended Outlook...VFR is expected through the period.
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&& .MARINE... Through Tonight... Offshore winds will prevail across the local coastal waters through tonight. Winds and seas are currently on a downward trend as trough to the north begins to shift offshore and high pressure builds in from the southwest during the day. Expect conditions to improve below SCA criteria this morning, with continued lowering of offshore wind speeds and seas through the day and into tonight. Seas combination of a diminishing SSW wind wave, offshore wind chop, and a 2 ft 8 sec SE swell. Sunday through Wednesday Night... Winds ands seas to remain below SCA thresholds this period. The exception will be Sun aftn thru Sun night, where periodic gusts up to 20-25 kt possible. In addition, an active sea breeze on days when highs across the mainland reach well into the 80s, ie. Mon and Tue, could result in an active/strong sea breeze nearshore that borders temporary SCA wind thresholds. Seas Sunday generally from the SE around 2 ft at 8 sec periods. Short period wind chopped seas to dominate late Sun thru early Tue. Underlying SE swell at 9 sec periods to reclaim temporary dominance Wed before wind chop again picks up and dominates thru Wed night. && .ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NC...Beach Hazards Statement through this evening for NCZ110. SC...None. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until noon EDT today for AMZ250-252-254- 256. && $$ SYNOPSIS...DCH NEAR TERM...VAO SHORT TERM...DCH LONG TERM...DCH AVIATION...VAO MARINE...DCH/VAO

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