Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Albany, NY

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030
FXUS61 KALY 020140
AFDALY

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Albany NY
940 PM EDT Wed May 1 2024

.SYNOPSIS...
Outside of isolated showers north and east of Albany
tonight due to a passing disturbance, primarily dry conditions are
expected throughout the remainder of the work week. In fact,
precipitation chances don`t increase again until Saturday afternoon
into Sunday ahead of a frontal system. Dry weather will then return
for the beginning of next week.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM THURSDAY MORNING/...
UPDATE...As of 930 PM EDT, bands of mid level clouds continue
tracking eastward for areas mainly north/west of the Capital
Region. These clouds and isolated upstream showers/sprinkles are
in association with developing mid level warm advection ahead of
potent shortwave located north of the Great Lakes.

Forcing will continue to increase overnight for areas mainly
north of I-90, so expect periods of clouds to continue, along
with isolated to scattered showers, mainly after midnight. A few
showers could even extend as far south as the I-90 corridor
closer to daybreak.

There is some mid level instability/steeper lapse rates noted on
upstream soundings, and latest RAP13 suggests Showalter Indices
dip as low as 0 to -2 C for areas north of I-90 closer to
daybreak, so can not completely rule out a few rumbles of
thunder.

Otherwise, low stratus continues to expand north and northwest
into southern Litchfield County, and will likely continue to
expand/develop northward overnight, possibly reaching portions
of the Capital Region, and likely across the Berkshires,
Litchfield Hills, mid Hudson Valley and southern Taconics. Some
patchy fog could develop across some of these areas, as well as
across portions of the upper Hudson Valley, especially should
any breaks in the mid level clouds develop prior to midnight.

Otherwise, just some minor adjustments to ongoing forecast based
on latest observations.

PREVIOUS [413 PM EDT]...Visible satellite shows primarily
partly cloudy to mostly sunny skies across the region this
afternoon as dry air is ushered in with high pressure building
to the south and west. A low pressure system has settled just
north of Michigan this afternoon, extending an associated
warm/borderline stationary boundary south and east through
western New York and into the northern Mid-Atlantic.

The aforementioned boundary will continue to lift north and east
through the region tonight as a true warm front as its parent
low tracks through southern Canada and a potent shortwave
rotates about its southern periphery. With the track of the low
remaining displaced well to our north, the shortwave looks to
cross the region north of Albany. As such, the divergent, right
exit region of a jet max within the flow of the disturbance will
intersect portions of the Southwest Adirondacks and Upper-Hudson
Valley, possibly leading to some scattered showers in these
areas. Elsewhere, dry conditions will remain steady.

Clouds are anticipated to increase across much of the area
tonight in response to the passage of the disturbance, so
temperatures will fair on the mild side with primarily 50s and
some low 40s in higher terrain regions.

&&

.SHORT TERM /6 AM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY/...
Upon the passage of the warm front and upper shortwave by
tomorrow morning, the parent low will be slow to move away from
our overhead, yielding some clouds lingering throughout the day
tomorrow, especially for western New England. A weak cold front
will swing through the region tomorrow afternoon as the low
drifts south and east, but a swift reinforcement of mid-level
dry air behind it will ensure another primarily dry day outside
of some scattered showers in the Upper-Hudson Valley and
portions of western New England. Anticipated breaks of sun,
especially in valley areas will allow temperatures to moderate
back to the 60s and 70s with some upper 50s expected above 1500
ft.

By tomorrow night, an upper-level ridge will be building in from
the west. The amplification of this ridge through Friday will
ensure a dry end of the work week with a continuation to above-
normal temperatures. Highs Friday will primarily be in the upper
60s with pockets of low 60s at higher elevations and near 70 in
valley areas after the cool boundary cools things off slightly.

The axis of the ridge will begin to shift eastward Friday night
into Saturday morning as a frontal system approaches from the
southwest. Showers look to begin as early as Saturday evening as
a surface low tracks towards into the Ohio Valley. Showers will
overspread the region from northwest to southeast as upper
troughing also pushes eastward into the region. Highs Saturday
will be similar to Friday with 60s expected across the region.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Upper level disturbance and surface boundary will be running into
the ridge in place for Saturday night into Sunday.  As a result, a
period of rain showers and cloudy conditions look to occur for Sat
night into Sunday (mainly early in the day, based on the latest
operational runs).  Have gone with fairly high POPs during this time
period for the entire area (high chance to likely).  Can`t rule out
some rumbles of thunder across southern areas too, although strong
storms are not expected due to limited instability and most of the
thunderstorm activity being elevated.  Temps will be in the 40s on
Sat night and only in the 50s on Sunday with plenty of clouds around.

Some clearing should occur by Monday with ridging building back into
the area for early next week.  As a result, skies should be partly
to mostly sunny for both Monday and Tuesday with valley highs in the
70s and overnight lows in the 40s and 50s.

Another chance for showers may return for Tuesday night into
Wednesday as the next system approaches from the west.  Temps will
continue to be fairly seasonable to somewhat above normal.  Because
of this, no frost/freeze issues are anticipated through the long
term period for locations where the growing season has already
begun.

&&

.AVIATION /02Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
Low pressure will track across northern New England tonight into
Thursday morning. A cold front associated with this low will
track southeastward across the TAF sites during Thursday
morning.

VFR conditions through early this evening, then patchy ground
fog may develop at KGFL between 03Z-06Z/Sat, producing
intermittent MVFR/IFR Vsbys and Cigs. Also, some low clouds may
expand north/northwest for KALB, KPSF and KPOU between
05Z-08Z/Thu, and may linger until 11Z-13Z/Thu before eroding.

Isolated showers will be possible ahead of the cold front late
tonight, with best chance for a few showers occurring at KGFL
between 06Z-11Z/Thu.

Once any low clouds/patchy fog burn off, expect VFR conditions
for late Thursday morning through Thursday evening.

Light/variable winds this evening will trend into the southeast
to south at 4-8 KT later this evening through daybreak, although
will increase to 8-12 KT with a few gusts of 15-20 KT possible
at KALB. Wind will shift into the southwest, then west as the
cold front passes Thursday morning, with west to northwest winds
increasing to 8-14 KT Thursday afternoon, with gusts up to or
slightly in excess of 25 KT possible, especially at KALB and
KPSF.

Outlook...

Thursday Night: No Operational Impact. NO SIG WX.
Friday: No Operational Impact. NO SIG WX.
Friday Night: No Operational Impact. NO SIG WX.
Saturday: Low Operational Impact. Slight Chance of SHRA.
Saturday Night: Moderate Operational Impact. Likely SHRA.
Sunday: High Operational Impact. Likely SHRA...TSRA.
Sunday Night: Low Operational Impact. Slight Chance of SHRA.
Monday: No Operational Impact. NO SIG WX.

&&

.ALY WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CT...None.
NY...None.
MA...None.
VT...None.

&&

$$

SYNOPSIS...Gant/KL
NEAR TERM...Gant/KL
SHORT TERM...Gant
LONG TERM...Frugis
AVIATION...KL