Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Raleigh/Durham, NC
Issued by NWS Raleigh/Durham, NC
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311 FXUS62 KRAH 061153 AFDRAH Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Raleigh NC 753 AM EDT Sun Sep 6 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... * Locally dense fog centered over the ern Sandhills and srn and cntl Coastal Plain will disperse through around 9 AM. && .KEY MESSAGES... As of 300 AM Sunday... 1) Locally dense fog and probably widespread low overcast this morning, then showers and isolated storms focused over the Piedmont and Sandhills this afternoon 2) Several days of near normal temperatures starting today, followed by an increase back above normal mid/late week && .DISCUSSION... As of 300 AM Sunday... KEY MESSAGE 1... Locally dense fog and probably widespread low overcast this morning, then showers and isolated storms focused over the Piedmont and Sandhills this afternoon Cyclonic, nnwly flow aloft will prevail across the Middle and South Atlantic states through tonight, between a slow-moving cyclone over the Canadian Maritimes and a ridge over the srn High Plains. Within that nnwly flow regime, at least a couple of impulses over the mid and upr MS Valley will progress across the Southeast. At the surface, a synoptic front was analyzed at 06Z from far nern NC nwwd across srn VA, then generally wwd through KY and srn MO. This boundary will continue to settle swwd, in backdoor fashion, though NC today. Light wind, initially clear skies, and abundant near surface and soil moisture will favor the development of areas of low stratus and fog/mist this morning. While related ceilings and visibility restrictions will lift and disperse through midday, an area of deeper, 850-700 mb centered moisture stretching across the Virginias and lwr Oh Valley will progress ssewd into cntl NC through the afternoon. This area of moisture will coincide with the progression of the backdoor surface cold front and result in the development and deepening of showers and isolated storms, focused over the Piedmont and adjacent Sandhills, where diurnal timing will allow for relatively stronger heating and destabilization. An isolated strong to severe storm or two will be possible over the far wrn/srn Piedmont during the afternoon, before the front and moisture and instability axes continue wswwd into the Upstate of SC and far swrn NC tonight. KEY MESSAGE 2... Several days of near normal temperatures starting today, followed by an increase back above normal mid/late week Temperatures today through Tuesday should remain near normal as a mid/upper level longwave trough slowly shifts off the east coast. Cooler and drier air should filter into the region from the north through the day today, allowing high temperatures this afternoon to rise into the low 80s north to the upper 80s south. Temperatures should remain in the 80s through at least Tuesday. As ridging starts to build over the region mid-week, highs should return to the 90s on Wednesday or Thursday. The chance of rain early this week after today will be generally low each day, with an isolated diurnal thunderstorm possible each afternoon/evening especially late week as warming is occurring and moisture is returning to the region. It looks like another cold front may pass through central NC Thursday night which brings the next best chance of showers to the region. Temperatures may then cool off a few degrees, potentially back into the 80s, for next weekend. && .AVIATION /12Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 750 AM Sunday... Variable flight restrictions this morning, ranging from VLIFR at FAY to generally IFR and MVFR at Piedmont sites and RWI, should lift and scatter to low VFR between 15-19Z. Scattered to locally numerous showers and isolated storms will also probably develop along and near a backdoor cold front that will settle swwd across the forecast area through this afternoon-early evening. Areas of IFR-MVFR ceilings and lingering showers/light rain will be possible mainly just to the west of INT/GSO late tonight-Mon morning. Outlook: High pressure over the Middle Atlantic will favor mainly VFR conditions through mid week. && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ DISCUSSION...MWS/LBH AVIATION...MWS