Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Charleston, WV

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294 FXUS61 KRLX 061742 AFDRLX AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Charleston WV 142 PM EDT Mon May 6 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Active weather prevails through the work week, with daily chances for showers and storms. The frequency of storms will pose concern for localized flooding each day. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
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As of 122 PM Monday... The severe threat remains low this afternoon and into this evening, but some storms have been producing small hail up to 0.50" in diameter, below severe criteria. 1 hour flash flood guidance is lowest near the Ohio River in northwestern WV and southeast OH, around 0.75-1.25". Therefore, we will continue to monitor for the threat of flooding where thunderstorms move over repeated areas. Dense fog will likely develop overnight with calm winds and plentiful surface moisture, especially in areas that saw rainfall today. The threat of severe thunderstorms will return tomorrow, with all severe modes possible (damaging winds, tornadoes, large hail). MLCAPE values of 1,500-2,000 J/kg and 0-6 km bulk shear of 35-45 kts will provide support for organized convection Tuesday afternoon and evening. The better atmospheric dynamics will likely be across western WV, southeast OH and northeast KY, and this is where the Slight Risk is located. The best overall threat for severe weather Tuesday afternoon will be just outside of our County Warning Area, across central and western Ohio.
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&& .SHORT TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/... As of 335 AM Monday... Key Points: * Isolated to scattered severe storms and localized flash flooding possible Tuesday afternoon and evening. Damaging wind gusts and hail are the main concerns, though a tornado can`t be ruled out. * Wednesday brings potential for another round of severe storms and localized flooding. Tuesday begins with a warm front draped across northern WV and OH and a shortwave tracking towards the Great Lakes region. This wave and surface low are eventually expected to push a cold front into the Ohio Valley. Warm, moist air flows into the area well in advance of the front and helps to facilitate the development of showers and thunderstorms during the day. Forecast soundings continue to show potential for moderate to strong instability in concert with DCAPE approaching 1000 J/kg and 30-40kts of effective shear Tuesday afternoon and evening. During this time, isolated to scattered storms could become severe with damaging winds and large hail as the main concerns, though a tornado isn`t out of the question either. PWATs hovering in the 1-2 inch range also indicate storms may be accompanied by heavy downpours which could lead to localized flash flooding. The aforementioned cold front progresses across the CWA Tuesday night, then is expected to be lifted back to the north as a warm front Wednesday into Wednesday night as yet another low tracks out of the Central Plains and towards the Great Lakes. Severe weather will again be possible, with potential for damaging winds, hail, and tornadoes on Wednesday. The new day 3 outlook from SPC has highlighted the majority of the area in a slight risk of severe weather, but clips part of northeast Kentucky with an enhanced risk. Flooding concerns also persist on Wednesday as storms bring more locally heavy rain to areas that are gradually becoming saturated. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 100 PM Monday... Key Points: * Unsettled pattern persists through the period. * Strongest, heaviest thunderstorms most likely on Thursday. A mid-upper level short wave trough approaches Thursday, and then crosses on Friday, leaving a more southern stream component stranded out over the Four Corners Region. A second mid-upper level short wave trough then crosses this weekend. A surface low pressure system associated with the first trough passes just north of the forecast area Thursday, its cold front crossing the forecast area during the morning to midday hours. With very warm and moist air having been transported across the area ahead of the system, showers will be widespread across the area Thursday morning, with embedded heavier rainfall including a few thunderstorms. Flooding potential this week is likely to be highest Thursday given the likelihood of heavy rain on saturated grounds from following rounds of heavy rain during the short term. Elevated CAPE up around 2 KJ/kg and intense shear associated with the system, including 0-3 km storm relative helicity possibly as high as 400 ms/s2, could lead to severe weather including a tornado or two Thursday, despite the early day timing. A more isolated severe threat continues through the peak heating hours, even as the initial cold front passes. Thunderstorms weaken and dissipate, and shower coverage decreases, Thursday night. The passage of the mid-upper level trough Friday is likely to lead to an increase in shower and thunderstorm coverage again, especially during the afternoon heating, with gusty winds and hail possible beneath the cold air aloft. The second short wave trough follows right on the heels of its predecessor and slowly crosses next weekend. With a weaker surface reflection, this will lead to more diurnally tied showers and thunderstorms. There is uncertainty as to how deep the trough digs, but the more it does, the greater the afternoon hail threat, especially if it digs far enough south to get its low center over the forecast area. Central guidance reflects above normal temperatures Thursday getting knocked back to around normal for Friday and the weekend, in the wake of the passage of the first trough and surface low pressure system. && .AVIATION /17Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
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As of 120 PM Monday... Showers and thunderstorms will remain scattered throughout the rest of the afternoon and into early this evening. The exact timing and location of thunderstorms is difficult to pinpoint, but any location that receives a thunderstorm can expect brief deterioration to IFR conditions. VCTS was included in the TAFs for this afternoon due to the low confidence of thunderstorm timing at each terminal. The MVFR/IFR cloud deck over central and western portions of West Virginia will persist through late this afternoon. There may be a brief improvement to VFR conditions this evening before areas of fog return overnight. Expect fog to begin to develop after 03Z Tuesday, lasting until 12-14Z. Expect IFR and LIFR conditions in fog overnight. Winds will remain light through the duration of the TAF period. FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY... FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium to low in fog; medium for the afternoon. ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing and location of shower/storm restrictions may vary from 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 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 M M M M M M M M HTS CONSISTENCY H H M M M M M M M M M M BKW CONSISTENCY H H H H H M M M M H H M EKN CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H M M L PKB CONSISTENCY H H H H H H M M M M M M CKB CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H M M M AFTER 18Z TUESDAY... IFR conditions at times in showers and thunderstorms into Thursday, and in fog and stratus on mornings following showers and thunderstorms.
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&& .RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WV...None. OH...None. KY...None. VA...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...MEK/JLB NEAR TERM...JMC SHORT TERM...JLB LONG TERM...TRM AVIATION...JMC