


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Charleston, WV
Issued by NWS Charleston, WV
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538 FXUS61 KRLX 181842 AFDRLX AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Charleston WV 242 PM EDT Fri Jul 18 2025 .SYNOPSIS... A tropical airmass remains over the region with several shortwaves passing through. Locally heavy showers and storms over increasingly compromised soils may lead to flash flooding. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... The atmosphere is primed for convection this afternoon and evening with an extremely moist airmass in place. In fact, PWATs on the latest SPC MesoAnalysis page are around 2" along the OH River with most of the region between 1.7" and 2.1". As of this afternoon, surface heating/insolation has effectively eroded most of the morning inhibition, allowing scattered thunderstorms to develop just to the west of the CWA. This area of convection will move into the region later this afternoon and into the evening. This will increase the flash flood threat where storms train over already saturated soils or train for multiple hours in one location. Instantaneous rainfall rates could easily exceed 5" inches per/hr with one hr totals exceeding 1-2". Any locations that see more sustained training or repeated storms could see localized bullseyes over the next 24hrs of 2-5". This could lead to localized considerable flash flooding. As for some of the stronger storms, localized damaging winds will be possible from wet microbursts. Any wind threat should wane into the overnight, but heavy rain will remain a threat. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... The active and humid pattern continues Saturday. Another mid-level disturbance will provide forcing within the same tropical airmass. The thermodynamic profile will be similar to Friday, with afternoon MLCAPE reaching 1000-2000 J/kg. A slight increase in deep-layer shear is anticipated, with shear values potentially reaching 20-30 knots. This may allow for better- organized multicell clusters and transient short line segments, increasing the potential for isolated damaging wind gusts, warranting another Marginal Risk for severe thunderstorms. The primary threat, however, remains flash flooding due to efficient rainfall processes in the moisture-laden environment. It is becoming increasingly likely the mid shift will need to issue another Flash Flood Watch for Saturday. By Sunday, a cold front will begin to push into the region from the northwest. The front will serve as a focus for convective initiation. Ahead of the front, strong heating/insolation will again generate modest instability, with MLCAPE values between 1000-2000 J/kg. While deep-layer shear will remain modest, sufficient instability and lift along the boundary support a Marginal Risk for severe thunderstorms, with damaging winds being the main concern. The front will clear the area from northwest to south Sunday night, bringing an end to the widespread precipitation threat. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... A notable pattern shift occurs early next week as the frontal boundary pushes south of the area and high pressure builds in from the north. This will introduce a drier and more stable airmass on Monday, resulting in a marked decrease in precipitation chances. The dominant weather story for the remainder of the long term will be building heat. A subtropical ridge is forecast to strengthen and expand northward, promoting subsidence and a steady warming trend. High temperatures, starting in the mid 80s on Monday, are forecast to climb into the low 90s by Wednesday and Thursday. With dew points remaining sticky in the upper 60s to low/mid 70s, afternoon heat indices will approach the mid/upper 90s, with some locations possibly reaching 100 degrees. && .AVIATION /18Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... As of 146 PM Friday... Iso/sct SHRA with Iso TSRA/+TSRA continuing regionally. Additional showers/storms develop this afternoon into the evening. Under heavier shower/storms brief IFR from CIGs/VSBYs likely. With the stronger storms, gusts from variable directions in excess of 40kts will be possible in addition to lightning. While activity should decrease overnight, lingering showers/storms are possible throughout the night. Continued widespread MVFR from CIGs likely, with localized IFR from VSBYs/CIGs overnight. FG will also be possible at all TAF sites. Another round of storms expected tomorrow with similar impacts to today. FORECAST CONFIDENCE: MEDIUM ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Improvements from overnight fog may vary from the forecast. Timing, locations and intensity of showers and thunderstorms today/tonight could vary from the forecast. 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 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 EDT 1HRLY 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 CRW CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H M M L HTS CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H H BKW CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H H EKN CONSISTENCY H H H H M H H H H H H L PKB CONSISTENCY M H H M M H H H M L L M CKB CONSISTENCY H H M H H H H H H M L L AFTER 18Z SATURDAY...Brief periods of IFR conditions possible under showers and thunderstorms, mainly during the afternoon and evening hours, into next week. IFR or worse fog is also possible during the overnights, especially where any heavy rain falls the previous day or evening. && .RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WV...Flood Watch until 2 AM EDT Saturday for WVZ005>011-013>020- 024>034-039-040-515>526. OH...Flood Watch until 2 AM EDT Saturday for OHZ066-067-075-076- 083>087. KY...Flood Watch until 2 AM EDT Saturday for KYZ101>103-105. VA...Flood Watch until 2 AM EDT Saturday for VAZ003-004. && $$ SYNOPSIS...JRM NEAR TERM...JRM SHORT TERM...JRM LONG TERM...JRM AVIATION...JRM