Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Newport/Morehead, NC
Issued by NWS Newport/Morehead, NC
868 FXUS62 KMHX 312317 AFDMHX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC 717 PM EDT Mon Aug 31 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... Added Slight Chance PoPs along sea breeze tomorrow. Updated Aviation Discussion && .KEY MESSAGES... 1) High pressure builds in through mid to late week bringing anomalous heat and humidity across the area 2) Strong cold front to bring relief from the heat this weekend into early next week, along with a risk of strong thunderstorms && .DISCUSSION... KEY MESSAGE 1...A notable upper level ridge, currently centered over the Midwest, will shift east this week with anomalous heights overspreading the Mid-Atlantic and Carolinas. Beneath the ridge, an expansive area of anomalously warm low-level thicknesses are forecast to reside across the Southeast U.S., with 850mb temperatures reaching around 20C. Meanwhile, southerly flow will help hold dewpoints in the 70s most days, especially Wednesday through Friday. The combination of highs in the 90s and dewpoints in the 70s will make it feel like 100 to 110 degrees during that time. Forecast aids like the ECMWF`s EFI show an impressive signal for anomalous heat mid to late-week, adding confidence to the impact. Lastly, the NWS` experimental Heat Risk puts most of ENC in the "Major" impact category. Bottom line, it will be dangerously hot and humid for much of the upcoming week, with impacts expected to peak Wednesday- Friday. Assuming the forecast holds, heat headlines will likely be needed for portions of the area. To give some context to the anomaly of this incoming heat wave, heat headlines a fairly rare this late in the season. Since 2005, heat headlines have been issued in September only once (2020). If dewpoints mix out some, then heat indices may not get as high, despite the anomalous temps. Based on the latest guidance, though, headlines appear likely. KEY MESSAGE 2...A strong cold front is forecast to move through the Carolinas Friday night or Saturday. At minimum, this will knock down the heat, bringing a refreshing break from the anomalous heat and humidity. Additionally, guidance show a decent signal for convection with the front. Synoptically, the setup appears favorable for strong to severe thunderstorms depending on the timing of the passage of the front. Machine learning guidance shows a decent signal for this potential as well. From a probabilistic standpoint, the risk appears to be the highest on Saturday. Behind the front, highs are forecast to drop back down into the 80s, with lows in the 60s. Adding to this will be dewpoints falling back into the 50s and 60s making it feel more comfortable. && .AVIATION /00Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... Forecast confidence is moderate over the next 24 hours. VFR conditions this evening, with guidance becoming more aggressive with sub-VFR conditions tonight, especially east of hwy 17. This may be due to the swath of 1-3" of rain observed east of hwy 17 yesterday still keeping soils saturated. Highest potential for IFR to VLIFR conditions appears to be for EWN, so hit EWN the hardest with a TEMPO 1SM with this TAF cycle. If this trend continues I could see further adjustments to be more aggressive in IFR messaging. OAJ didn`t get as much rain as EWN, so kept them at MVFR (TEMPO 3SM), with PGV and ISO going as low as TEMPO 5SM. All TAF sites could see reduced VIS, but the signal in guidance isn`t quite as strong inland as it is closer to the coast. Mostly dry conditions and a continued reduction in TSRA is expected on Tuesday. NOTE: AMD NOT SKED has been appended to the EWN TAFs as the site is not transmitting through normal channels. The site is still reporting via telephone so it will be monitored, but not as frequently as when it is completely operational. The next closest ASOS is at Cherry Point (KNKT). Outlook: Mostly VFR conditions are expected through the end of the week along with a reduced risk of TSRA. Occasional sub-VFR conditions may occur during the early morning hours in BR/MIFG each day. && .MARINE... Good boating conditions are ongoing at this time with winds around 5- 10kt and seas of 1-2ft. These conditions are expected to continue through Tuesday morning. By Tuesday afternoon, a strengthening thermal gradient should lead to southwesterly winds building to 10- 15kt, with seas building to 2-3ft. The risk of thunderstorms looks very low (<10% chance) through Tuesday afternoon for most waters. The exceptions are scattered tstorms far outer central and southern waters along the Gulf Stream, and isolated, weak, short lived showers/tstorms along the sea breeze capable of reaching inland rivers. Outlook: Generally good boating conditions are expected through Friday. It will be breezy each afternoon and evening with the diurnal max of the thermal gradient, and some waters may come close to 25kt at times, especially Thursday and Friday. Over the weekend, a strong cold front is forecast to move through with a chance of thunderstorms and winds flipping around to northeasterly. && .CLIMATE... Record High Temperatures for 09/02 (Wednesday) LOCATION TEMP/YEAR New Bern 96/2014 (KEWN ASOS) Cape Hatteras 91/2018 (KHSE ASOS) Greenville 101/1932 (COOP - Not KPGV AWOS) Morehead City 91/1998 (COOP - Not KMRH ASOS) Kinston 98/1993 (COOP - Not KISO AWOS) Jacksonville 95/1998 (NCA ASOS) Record High Temperatures for 09/03 (Thursday) LOCATION TEMP/YEAR New Bern 95/2020 (KEWN ASOS) Cape Hatteras 91/2018 (KHSE ASOS) Greenville 101/1921 (COOP - Not KPGV AWOS) Morehead City 93/1959 (COOP - Not KMRH ASOS) Kinston 98/1980 (COOP - Not KISO AWOS) Jacksonville 96/2020 (NCA ASOS) && .MHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NC...None. MARINE...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...RM AVIATION...RM/RJ MARINE...RM