623
FXUS61 KRLX 212331
AFDRLX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
731 PM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
728 PM Update...

~00z aviation discussion update.

229 PM Update...
Forecast remains on track with previous issuances. 18Z Aviation
forecast discussion update.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Diurnally driven showers and storms are anticipated to spawn
over the next few hours across the eastern half of the forecast
area today.

2) Active weather extends into the start of the weekend as a
cold front drives through the Central Appalachians by Saturday
night. Thunderstorm development preceding the frontal passage
may foster damaging wind gusts and hail.

3) High pressure building in for the start of the new work week
will yield a stretch of dry weather and below normal
temperatures across parts of the Ohio Valley.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...

Radar trends thus far today have kept the bulk of activity
associated with a southern stream disturbance east of the
Appalachians. However, additional development in Kentucky at the
time of writing within blossoming cumulus signals
destabilization that bears a similar environment to parts of the
central lowlands. Hi-res modeling fires up a line of diurnally
driven storms along the foothills and mountains for this
afternoon and fading off after sunset. Leftover moisture will
once again promote locally dense fog and low level stratus late
tonight into Saturday morning.


KEY MESSAGE 2...

Amplification of an upper level trough, coupled with shortwave
energy, will drive a cold front through the Ohio Valley for the
start of the weekend. Daytime heating will lead to typical
summertime destabilization ahead of the front, prompting
blossoming cumulus fields and scattered shower and storm
development. Storm initiation preceding FROPA may begin as early
as 2 PM across the Ohio River Valley and also along the higher
terrain with assistance from upslope lift.

Radar will then remain active through the course of the
afternoon and evening with the eastward push of the front,
currently aiming for an arrival time into the forecast area by
late Saturday night. One last line of showers and storms aligned
along the boundary presses through overnight into Sunday
morning, lingering longest along the higher terrain for the end
of the weekend.


KEY MESSAGE 3...

While some lingering precipitation along the northeast WV
mountains may be ongoing for the start of the day Sunday, a
multi-day dry weather pattern is progged to arrive for the end
of the weekend/start of next week under the guise of building
high pressure. This stretch of dry weather will aid in soil
recovery in the wake of what has been a very wet month across
the bulk of the forecast area.

Temperatures are also anticipated to fall below climatological
norms in the wake of the frontal passage, with daytime highs
reaching the 60s along the mountains and 70s to low 80s across
the lowlands. Overnight lows will also cool down into the 40s
and 50s during this time.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...

Scattered, nearly stationary showers and thunderstorms have
spawned across the mountains, but will be gradually tapering off
the next 1 to 2 hours. Have allowed VCTS and TEMPO groups at
BKW and EKN as the chances are higher for impacts at these
sites.

Dense valley fog and some low stratus along the mountains is
expected to occur tonight, especially where rainfall occurred
today. IFR or lower conditions are expected with any fog or low
clouds. VFR conditions will resume by ~13-14z Saturday.

Winds will be light to calm for most locations tonight.


FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY...

FORECAST CONFIDENCE: HIGH

ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing and location of showers and
thunderstorms may vary from the forecast. Restrictions from fog
and low stratus may vary tonight and Saturday morning.

EXPERIMENTAL TABLE OF FLIGHT CATEGORY OBJECTIVELY SHOWS CONSISTENCY
OF WFO FORECAST TO AVAILABLE MODEL INFORMATION:
H = HIGH:   TAF CONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL.
M = MEDIUM: TAF HAS VARYING LEVEL OF CONSISTENCY WITH MODELS.
L = LOW:    TAF INCONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL.

UTC 1HRLY       21   22   23   00   01   02   03   04   05   06   07   08
EDT 1HRLY       17   18   19   20   21   22   23   00   01   02   03   04
CRW CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    M    M    L    M    M    M
HTS CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    M    M    M
BKW CONSISTENCY  M    H    H    H    H    H    M    L    L    L    M    L
EKN CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    L    H    L    L
PKB CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    M    M    M
CKB CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    M    H    M

AFTER 00Z SUNDAY...
IFR conditions possible in showers and thunderstorms Saturday
night. Possibly again Sunday afternoon/evening.

&&

.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...None.
OH...None.
KY...None.
VA...None.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...05
AVIATION...LTC