Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Wilmington, NC

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000 FXUS62 KILM 161955 AFDILM Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wilmington NC 355 PM EDT Tue Apr 16 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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High pressure will lead to unseasonably warm and quiet weather through midweek. A series of weak disturbances bring only a slight chance of showers towards later in the week. Some slightly higher relative humidity values are slated for late week into next weekend. Rain chances may start to increase later in the weekend, with temperatures gradually starting to fall.
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&& .NEAR TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
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A weak back door front resides to the north of the area as Bermuda High Pressure continues to control the weather across the area. There is still some guidance suggesting a few showers and or a rumble of thunder across northern areas with the front and maintained the slight chance pops. Otherwise a very warm forecast remains in place with overnight lows in the lower 60s and Wednesday`s highs perhaps just a shade lower than today with middle 80s.
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&& .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/...
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Shortwave aloft moves through the area Wednesday night. Funny enough, it looks stronger than it ever has the previous forecast cycles, but there still appears to be plenty dry air below 500mb. Maybe a couple inland areas see a sprinkle or two, but that`s it. Lows in the lower 60s. Modest ridging builds in Thursday, allowing skies to clear out. Highs in the upper 80s inland, lower 80s at the coast. Some inland locales have a shot at reaching 90 degrees. A weak cold front moves through the area Thursday night. Looks like there is some better moisture at 850mb, but the rest of the column looks dry. No rain chances here, just mid-level clouds. Lows Thursday night in the low-to-mid 60s.
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&& .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
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The front stalls offshore, while better shortwave energy moves in from the west. Southwesterly flow increases significantly, allowing for much better moisture return. Precipitable water values climb to the 1.25-1.50" range, allowing for some better scattered shower and thunderstorm chances to come into play by Friday afternoon. High and low temperatures run similar to the previous day. Saturday, old frontal boundary offshore tries to back towards the coast as a warm front. Meanwhile, a stronger cold front moves through Saturday and Saturday night. Forecast initially looks dry Saturday, with moisture lacking again in the low- and mid-levels. Much better forcing enters the fold by Saturday evening through Sunday night, bringing the best chances for showers and thunderstorms we`ll see all week. Clouds knock down the high temperatures a bit on Saturday (mid 80s inland, lower 80s at the coast). Northeasterly flow Saturday night knocks down the lows a bit...generally the mid-to-upper 50s. Northeasterly flow gets a bit deeper in the low-levels Sunday, allowing for much milder highs in the lower 70s. Lows Sunday night in the lower 50s. Cooler high pressure comes in Monday and Tuesday, drying out the forecast and knocking down temperatures even more. Highs in the upper 60s Monday become the low-to-mid 70s by Tuesday. Lows in the low-to-mid 50s.
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&& .AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... VFR conditions expected through most of the period. The only possible caveats include a few showers and or a TS associated with a back door cold front and MVFR BR in Wilmington. Both are low chance events and maintained the mention of BR mainly for continuity. Extended Outlook...VFR is expected through the period. && .MARINE...
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Through Wednesday...A southerly flow will continue across the waters for the foreseeable future. A dissipating front from the northeast may turn the winds briefly to a more easterly direction across northern waters but that is seemingly the only caveat to the overall synoptic flow. Wind speeds will increase Wednesday to 10-15 knots. Significant seas will be 2-4 feet. Wednesday Night through Sunday...Southwesterly winds at 10-15kts remain locked in through Friday morning, before backing a bit more southerly through Friday afternoon. Variable wind direction Saturday and Saturday night, before settling on northeasterly by Sunday. Seas remain at 2-3ft through Saturday night, with a few 4ft waves possible by Sunday.
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&& .ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NC...None. SC...None. MARINE...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...ILM NEAR TERM...SHK SHORT TERM...IGB LONG TERM...IGB AVIATION...SHK MARINE...SHK/IGB

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