Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Raleigh/Durham, NC

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827 FXUS62 KRAH 141353 AFDRAH Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Raleigh NC 952 AM EDT Tue May 14 2024 .SYNOPSIS... A warm front will move northward along the Carolina coast this afternoon and evening as low pressure approaches from the west. Low pressure will shift to the coast tonight and Wednesday. A cold front will move through the region Wednesday night and Thursday morning. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
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As of 952 AM Tuesday... Waves of showers and embedded thunderstorms are expected into the early evening hours, with less coverage toward the late evening to overnight period. The morning analysis both at the surface and via satellite reveals some interesting features that will be impactful for the weather today/tonight. A pair of warm fronts appear noticeable at the surface, on across southern AL to south/central GA, while a secondary warm front may be over northern GA to central SC. Moisture rich air is over much of the area with 60s dewpoints over much of the region. Lower 70s dewpoints are presently confined along SE GA and off the SC coast. A mid-level shortwave/surface low is over the Midwest, with a cold front draped into western AR. On satellite, while it took a few hours to see the circulation, an MCV appears left over from last night`s convection. Its center appears located over south-central GA, with the day-cloud phase showing some weak cyclonic rotation. Continued 925-700 mb WAA will continue to overspread the area into the early evening as the warm front lifts north into the area. At the same time, models continue to hint that the MCV will make a NE movement this afternoon/evening into NE SC and parts of far SE NC. As this happens, lift from the meso-low and WAA should favor continued development of showers over the area. Embedded storms will be possible this afternoon and evening. The best storm threat appears from the Sandhills into the central Coastal Plain, when the HRRR suggests 500-1000 J/kg of surface CAPE may move in ahead of or north of the MCV. Favorable shear combined with this should favor a locally damaging wind threat, but confidence is low on coverage and location. Best severe timing today over this region would be from 3 PM to 8 PM based on the NCAR Neural Network guidance. Shower and storm coverage appears to weaken considerably tonight and overnight as energy from the MCV exits and the mid-level energy sets up a dry slot. However, as the upper trough over the Midwest pivots closer into KY/TN, convection developing over the TN valley could impact the western Piedmont late tonight. Most CAMs suggest this would dissipate with nocturnal stabilization and possible fog/low stratus over the area. As such, confidence is low on this secondary chance overnight, with the best chance being from 8 PM to 1-2 AM. This could favor another severe risk in the southern Piedmont.
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&& .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT/... As of 255 AM Tuesday... There is a marginal risk of severe thunderstorms Wed. afternoon and early evening. A compact shortwave trough centered over the TN Valley and southern Appalachians will move east through the region Wednesday before moving offshore Wednesday night. A low pressure will start the day over central NC which will drag a cold front SE across the area later in the day. We should start the day with plenty of stratus/fog limiting destabilization somewhat. Then, some partial sunshine should allow for heating and destabilization in the afternoon. Scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop. A few of these may become strong to locally severe with the main threat of damaging wind. Large hail would be a secondary threat. Expect highs in the mid 70s to lower 80s north to south. Low clouds and fog may again be a problem Wednesday night if the CAA is weak and delayed as some models suggest. Lows in the upper 50s and 60s. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... As of 330 AM Tuesday... A series of upper level shortwaves will move across the Mid-Atlantic region over the long term period. This will influence multiple rounds of showers and storms mid week and over the weekend. At the surface, another cold front is expected to move across the region Thursday resulting in dry conditions. By Friday afternoon another frontal boundary will move into the region with rain chances increasing in the afternoon across the western Piedmont and spreading east into the evening and overnight hours. For the weekend, confidence for the weather pattern is low/medium as models haven`t been very consistent on the timing of the next frontal boundary. For now, have increasing PoPs late Friday night with showers continuing through Saturday. Depending where the surface low is positioned by Sunday, that will result in how much more rainfall Central NC will receive. Therefore, confidence for Sunday and Monday is low for timing of precipitation, and medium for how much precipitation. Some of the long term models show the low pressure moving offshore by Monday resulting in a possibility for Monday to be mostly dry. Temperatures over the period will be above average with highs gradually increasing through the weekend. Thursday temps will be in the low 80s whereas by the first part of next week temps will be in the mid/upper 80s. && .AVIATION /12Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 635 AM Tuesday... VFR conditions will give way to rain/showers that will develop across the srn Appalachians and Carolinas this morning, during which time IFR to LIFR conditions are expected to overspread cntl NC. Associated rain may become moderate to heavy in intensity at RDU, FAY, and RWI on Tue, especially where deeper showers and isolated storms will be possible this afternoon. Rain will taper to areas of drizzle and fog tonight with IFR to LIFR conditions likely. Outlook: Sub-VFR conditions and possible fog will be possible early Wed. Another period of showers or storms are possible Wed aftn/eve, along with a chance of sub-VFR clouds early Thu. VFR should return Thu aftn, with the next chance of showers possibly Sat. && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...Badgett NEAR TERM...Kren SHORT TERM...Badgett LONG TERM...CA AVIATION...Badgett