


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Raleigh/Durham, NC
Issued by NWS Raleigh/Durham, NC
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964 FXUS62 KRAH 060132 AFDRAH Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Raleigh NC 932 PM EDT Thu Jun 5 2025 .SYNOPSIS... A weak area of low pressure will track slowly east northeast across southern and eastern NC through Friday morning. A series of mid and upper-level disturbances will overspread and interact with a frontal zone that will settle into and stall over NC this weekend through early to mid next week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 930 PM Thursday... Forecast remains largely on track, small adjustments made to account for latest obs and trends. As of 00Z, the surface low has stalled over the srn Piedmont, with the s/w aloft stacking above it, as shown in the 00Z upper air analyses. Some scattered showers and patchy light rain continue across the srn and ern Piedmont, and the Sandhills, however the threat for any strong storms, or storms at all, has largely diminished. There are still some persistent, slow moving heavier showers, so will maintain watch for any flooding concerns. However, those concerns should be isolated and limited to urban areas. The surface low should move very slowly ewd to the NC coast through tonight, with the rain and showers gradually tapering off as it does. As stated in the previous discussion, in the wake of the low and precipitation, widespread low overcast, and areas of fog over the nw through srn Piedmont, will prevail overnight, with low temperatures in the 60s. && .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT/... As of 350 PM Thursday... Generally low amplitude, quasi-zonal/wly mid to upr-level flow will prevail from the srn Plains to the srn Middle Atlantic. An embedded, convectively-amplified mid-level trough will move enewd and across the mid MS Valley early Fri and OH Valley and cntl Appalachians Fri afternoon and night, with associated, weak 10-30 meter/12hr 500 mb height falls that will glance cntl NC Fri night. At the surface, weak, 1013 mb low pressure over the Outer Banks Fri morning will move slowly enewd and offshore, while deepening by several millibars. A trailing, weak frontal zone will likely retreat slowly nwd over nern NC and srn VA, while a lee trough will develop over the srn Middle Atlantic wrn Piedmont. Clearing behind the departing low, except for some lingering low clouds on the cool side of the aforementioned frontal zone over the far ne Piedmont and nrn Coastal Plain will allow for strong diurnal heating into the mid 80s to near 90 F. That heating of a seasonably moist airmass characterized by surface dewpoints mostly in the mid/upr 60s will yield moderate destabilization and weakening convective inhibition, such that scattered convection may develop invof the lee trough (ie. nw Piedmont) and over the mountains, and possibly along the retreating frontal zone, despite generally neutral height tendency and a lack of background forcing for ascent. SOme of that activity may drift sewd across the remainder of the Piedmont and Sandhills through the evening, before dissipating. Some additional, weakening upstream convection, influenced by the convectively-amplified mid-level trough, may subsequently move east of the mountains and into the nrn Piedmont early Sat morning. It will otherwise be quite mild and humid, with lows within a few degrees either side of 70 F. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 240 PM Thursday... * general mid and upper-level troughing across the eastern U.S. through mid week along with a moist and unstable environment will result in a period of greater than average precipitation chances. * Rain chances will be maximized during the afternoon and evening, especially on Sunday and again Tuesday into Wednesday. * Stronger deep layer flow should support an increased risk of stronger storms on Sunday and perhaps Tuesday or Wednesday. Saturday will likely be the better day for outdoor activities this weekend as guidance suggests a little less convection than previously expected. Convection across the TN Valley on Friday night will likely weaken as it moves east with the remnants moving into western and northern NC on Saturday morning and dissipating. While cloud cover may be increased, rain chances would appear limited through the early to mid afternoon hours. The convective remnants may be a contributor to convective redevelopment during the afternoon and evening, likely across eastern and southern areas. Rain chances increase on Sunday as a shortwave trough across the OH Valley and an associated cold front drop into the region. With dew points in the upper 60s to lower 70s, favorable lapse rates, moderately instability and enhanced flow, there is a risk of strong to severe storms primarily during the afternoon and evening. Brief shortwave ridging on Monday ahead of the next trough should result in a bit of a lull or reduced threat of showers and storms. A stronger mid and upper level trough moves across the Great Lakes and the Northeast on Tuesday and Wednesday with an associated cold front and enhanced flow spreading into our region. This will likely result in another period of showers and storms with high PoPs and a threat of strong to severe storms on Tuesday and Wednesday. The troughing moves offshore and some weak ridging builds into the Southeast on Thursday resulting in a diminished risk of showers and storms on Thursday. Temperatures are likely to range near to above normal during the period. Highs should be the warmest on Saturday and Monday with highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s as there is apt to be a lull in convection and perhaps cloud cover. Heat index values these days will range in the 90s with some upper 90s possible across the southeast areas. Otherwise highs will range in the 80s to around 90. -Blaes && .AVIATION /00Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 753 PM Thursday... MVFR to IFR conditions still linger across all TAF sites, with the exception of INT where clouds have recently scattered out to VFR with SCT ceilings of 1800ft to 2000ft in the far NW Piedmont. Showers have continued across the Sandhills and portions of the Coastal Plain where IFR to low end MVFR restrictions continue. The low is centered over the Sandhills and expected to weaken as it shifts to the NE. Overnight, fog and low stratus are possible across areas that saw rain this afternoon and evening, which was pretty widespread across the area. Thus, as the rain moves out tonight I introduced IFR to LIFR restrictions at 7z across the north and tad earlier at FAY. By morning, generally 11z-15z Fri, sites are expected to become VFR in the NW and MVFR elsewhere. Other sites might not get to VFR conditions until the early afternoon. While scattering out in the afternoon is expected, another round of showers/storms are expecting to develop in the NW Piedmont. Thus, have a PROB30 at INT/GSO at the end of the 00z/Fri TAF. While no other PROB30s were introduced at the other TAF sites for this issuance, timing could be a factor in adding it in at later issuance. Some models are showing the NW Piedmont storms that develop Friday afternoon largely dissipate as it moves across the region others have the line continuing across the region past 00z. Outlook: A good chance of mainly afternoon and evening showers/ storms will accompany a frontal zone that will settle into and linger over NC through early to mid next week. Areas of morning fog/stratus will also be possible, particularly where rain occurs the previous afternoon-evening. && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...MWS NEAR TERM...KC/MWS SHORT TERM...MWS LONG TERM...Blaes AVIATION...CA/MWS