


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Newport/Morehead, NC
Issued by NWS Newport/Morehead, NC
851 FXUS62 KMHX 020655 AFDMHX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC 255 AM EDT Tue Sep 2 2025 .SYNOPSIS... High pressure will remain wedged over the mid-Atlantic and Carolinas for yet another day, abutting a stalled frontal boundary and low pressure a couple hundred miles off the coast. Another area of low pressure may pass over or offshore of the area mid to late week. A cold front will move through the area this weekend, with high pressure building in late weekend into early next week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TODAY/... As of 240 AM Tue...Overall weather pattern has remained stagnant over the past 24 hours with broad mid-level cyclone aloft continuing to dominate conditions over the eastern CONUS. At the surface, wedge of high pressure remains firmly entrenched across the mid-Atlantic and Southeast, buttressed against a stalled frontal boundary a few hundred miles offshore. Like yesterday, the pressure gradient is keeping a steady NE flow in place, especially along OBX where winds sit at 15-20 mph sustained. A few spotty showers linger offshore but shouldn`t pose a threat to any inland areas. The overall upper pattern will begin to shift somewhat today as a strong shortwave trough, currently situated over the northern prairies of Canada, dives southward towards the Great Lakes. This feature is forecast to get absorbed by the current mid- level cyclone, resulting in troughing deepening further over the eastern CONUS. Also of note is a wave of low pressure currently off the southeastern coast of FL, forecast to gradually migrate along the stalled offshore front. High pressure wedge will persist today and keep this low and its attendant moisture well away from the Carolina coastline. After advertising at least some precip risk yesterday, CAMs overnight have backed off on precipitation forecasts for today, showing only a few iso showers and storms well offshore - much like what we saw today. With a persistence forecast likely a safe bet given the stagnant pattern, opted to continue with a dry forecast today with partly cloudy skies. Deepening trough aloft means below average temperatures, settling in the upper 70s to low 80s. && .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT/... As of 245 AM Tue...Trough continues to deepen aloft while wedge remains in place and offshore low continues to lift northeastward. Like tonight, some spotty showers likely to be ongoing offshore and may approach the immediate coast but probability was too low to mention in forecast this morning. Otherwise, dry conditions expected under partly clear skies. Lows once again fall into the upper 50s inland, low to mid 60s along the water. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... As of 215 AM Tue... Key Messages - Temperatures gradually warming late week into Saturday - Mostly dry this week, with precip chances increasing this weekend into early next week Wednesday through Friday...The pattern will remain active with sfc high pressure ridging in from the NE, upper troughing over the eastern US while multiple shortwaves pivot through. Weak cold front will approach the area Thu night and Friday, though will likely stall and dissipate to the west. Despite the pattern, looks to remain mostly dry over eastern NC, with only potential for isolated showers. Temps remain below avg Wed gradually warming closer to climo by the end of the week as NE`rly flow becomes more S`rly and low level thicknesses increase. Temps will climb back towards 90 deg inland Fri. Saturday through Monday...Complex low pressure system will continue to push through Canada, while upper trough pivots through the eastern US, and cold front approaches from the west. Still some timing differences with the frontal passage, but general consensus at this time looks like Saturday night into early Sunday. Ahead of the front Saturday, moist SSW flow will allow for temps to warm into the low 90s inland and mid/upper 80s along the coast. Isolated to widely scattered showers and storms will be possible Sat and Sat night. Svr risk looks low at this time. High pressure will build in from the north Sunday and early next week. Post frontal NE flow will allow for drier and cooler air to filter back into the region. High temps will fall back into the upper 70s to low 80s, and lows in the 60s-70 deg. Sct showers and iso storms Sun into early next week, with highest chances during peak heating. Instability will remain limited with onshore flow. && .AVIATION /05Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... SHORT TERM /through 06z Wed/... As of 250 AM Tues...VFR flight cats prevail across all TAF terminals early this morning as wedge of high pressure remains in control inland and stalled frontal boundary continues to linger offshore. Seeing some very spotty MVFR vis west of the terminals where winds have decoupled, and if inner coastal plain manages to do so would not be surprised to see some brief drops right around dawn - largest threat ISO and PGV. For OBX sites, risk of a rogue shower or two is low: less than 10-20%. Flying conditions after sunrise similar to yesterday with diurnal cu developing after 16z in steady northeasterly winds up to 10 kts, although likely not quite as gusty. LONG TERM /Wednesday through Saturday/... As of 215 AM Tue...Pred VFR conditions expected through the period. While probs remains low, there will be potential for patchy sub-VFR fog and/or stratus each morning. && .MARINE... SHORT TERM /through tonight/... As of 300 AM Tue...Boating conditions remain poor this morning with little change in the overall weather pattern from yesterday as high pressure wedge remains inland and stalled front lingers offshore. Northeast gradient flow has eased somewhat compared to yesterday but still sits at 15-20 kt with higher gusts, especially across the outer waters. Seas remain stubbornly elevated, sitting at 5-7 feet. Little change in winds is expected through the rest of this morning. Winds will begin to ease ever so slightly through the day and into tomorrow as low pressure off the coast of FL lifts northeastward along the frontal boundary, which itself will begin to migrate further offshore. This will give seas room to subside further, and the forecast calls for SCA seas to come to an end shortly after midnight. The main change to headlines was to allow SCA for the Pamlico Sound to expire. Offshore SCAs for seas remain until 06z Wed. LONG TERM /Wednesday through Saturday/... As of 215 AM Tue...NNE winds 10-20 kt will grad ease to 5-15 kt through the day Wed with seas 3-5 ft subsiding to 2-4 ft, as high pressure ridges in from the north. Winds expected to remain light but gradually veer to the E-SE Thu and S-SW Fri and Sat as a cold front approaches from the west. Seas will remain at 2-4 ft late Wed into the first part of the weekend. && .MHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NC...Beach Hazards Statement from 8 AM EDT this morning through this evening for NCZ196-199-203>205. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 2 AM EDT early this morning for AMZ135. Small Craft Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for AMZ150. Small Craft Advisory until 2 AM EDT Wednesday for AMZ152-154. Small Craft Advisory until midnight EDT tonight for AMZ156-158. && $$ SYNOPSIS...MHX NEAR TERM...MS SHORT TERM...MS LONG TERM...CQD AVIATION...MS/CQD MARINE...MS/CQD