Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Charleston, WV

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674 FXUS61 KRLX 051618 AFDRLX AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Charleston WV 1218 PM EDT Sun May 5 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Upper level waves bring showers and storms at times this weekend. Active weather continues into next week, with daily chances for showers and storms. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON/... As of 1035 AM Sunday... Updated chances of precipitation and cloud cover based on latest radar, satellite, and meso model trends. As of 640 AM Sunday... Minor changes made to PoPs to align with the current track of showers in the area this morning. Otherwise, the forecast generally remains on track. As of 350 AM Sunday... Showers and isolated storms continue to progress across the area as a shortwave lifts northward early this morning. Some areas of fog are also developing in locations where skies have at least partially cleared and winds have calmed. Early morning fog should dissipate later this morning. A brief lull in precipitation may occur around daybreak, then activity is expected to pick up once again as instability becomes moderate to strong for the afternoon and evening. Meanwhile, a strong system pivoting over Canada steers a cold front towards the area. The front should reach the CWA late today and then ease eastward overnight, with showers and storms remaining a possibility out ahead of and along the front. SPC has included the northwestern quadrant of the CWA in a marginal severe weather risk for later today as isolated storms be capable of producing damaging winds or perhaps hail. Heavy downpours within storms could also cause localized flash flooding if they occur over locations that have already been subjected to high rainfall amounts. High temperatures for today are expected to range from mid 70s to low 80s in the lowlands and 60s to 70s in the mountains. Temperatures will then lower back into the 50s to 60s overnight. && .SHORT TERM /2 PM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
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As of 1217 PM Sunday... Severe weather will be possible across parts of the area Tuesday. SPC currently has portions of southeast Ohio, northeast Kentucky and western West Virginia outlooked in a slight risk of severe weather. Models suggest that all severe hazards will be possible, but the greatest threat may be damaging wind gusts. DCAPE values may exceed 1,000 J/kg, MUCAPE values look to exceed 2,000 J/kg, 0-6 km mean wind looks to be around 25 kts, and the effective bulk wind difference should be 25-30 kts. All of these parameters point toward a possible damaging wind threat with thunderstorms on Tuesday. PWATs are expected to be from 1.50-1.75", so flooding downpours will also be possible in thunderstorms. Another severe weather threat will exist Wednesday. The main severe risks on Wednesday appear to be damaging wind gusts and large hail. Forecast soundings show a large layer of mid-level dry air Wednesday afternoon, which would be conducive to hail development and damaging wind potential. SPC currently has portions of northeast Kentucky, southeast Ohio and extreme western West Virginia outlooked in a 15% risk for severe weather Wednesday (day 4). The intensity of any thunderstorms Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons will depend on how well the atmosphere destabilizes after prior morning convection. In addition, the ground is becoming more saturated due to recent convective activity over the past couple of days. Any thunderstorms that move over saturated ground may lead to flooding.
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&& .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
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As of 1218 PM Sunday... A cold front will pass through the region Friday morning, and the severe weather threat should diminish heading into next weekend as cooler, more stable air funnels in behind the front. However, showers will remain possible through the weekend with lingering energy aloft. With the ground becoming increasingly saturated due to recent convective activity, we may still have to keep an eye on the threat of flooding heading into the end of the week. Confidence is low at this time, so stay tuned for more details over the coming days as the picture becomes clearer. Temperatures will be much cooler Friday through next weekend, with highs only expected to be in the 50s (mountains) and 60s to lower 70s (lowlands).
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&& .AVIATION /16Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
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As of 640 AM Sunday... Restrictions due to valley fog and some low stratus along the mountains are expected to improve early this morning while a lull in precipitation occurs. Shower and storm activity should increase again during the day, with most robust storms occurring this afternoon and evening. Isolated storms could be capable of producing strong wind gusts or hail. While VFR is generally expected outside of any convection today, periodic reductions to MVFR/IFR will be possible during heavier downpours or storms. Precipitation continues into tonight as a cold front eases across the area, then flight conditions may deteriorate in low clouds or fog late in the TAF period. 5-12kt winds are expected to veer from southerly to a west/southwest direction during the day. Winds become light and variable for tonight. FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY... FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium. ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing of precipitation may vary from the forecast today. MVFR/IFR VSBY restrictions are possible in heavier showers or any storms. Extent/intensity of restrictions due to fog/stratus tonight may also vary. EXPERIMENTAL TABLE OF FLIGHT CATEGORY OBJECTIVELY SHOWS CONSISTENCY OF WFO FORECAST TO AVAILABLE MODEL INFORMATION: H = HIGH: TAF CONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL. M = MEDIUM: TAF HAS VARYING LEVEL OF CONSISTENCY WITH MODELS. L = LOW: TAF INCONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL. UTC 1HRLY 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 EDT 1HRLY 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 CRW CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H H HTS CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H H BKW CONSISTENCY L L L M H H H H H H H H EKN CONSISTENCY H L M H H H H H H H H H PKB CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H H CKB CONSISTENCY M M H H H H H H H H H H AFTER 18Z MONDAY... IFR conditions possible at times in showers and thunderstorms into mid next week. Fog and/or low stratus are possible Monday night.
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&& .RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WV...None. OH...None. KY...None. VA...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...JLB/JMC NEAR TERM...RPY/JLB SHORT TERM...JMC LONG TERM...JMC AVIATION...JLB