Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Sterling, VA

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662 FXUS61 KLWX 180130 AFDLWX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 930 PM EDT Fri May 17 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Low pressure will track to our south tonight, before progressing offshore this weekend. High pressure will build into the area early next week. A cold front will approach from the west during the middle of the week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/...
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As of 9 PM, showers and a few thunderstorms are ongoing from central Virginia into the Potomac Highlands. Coverage of showers and storms will increase through the remainder of the evening and into the first half of the overnight as a shortwave disturbance and attendant jet streak at upper levels approaches from the south and west. Multiple rounds of rain and thunderstorms will be possible across the Potomac Highlands, Shenandoah Valley, and central Virginia, where a Flood Watch remains in effect through 4 AM. Further north and east, showers will gradually move in during the first half of the overnight. Instability will be lacking, so a steady soaking rain is expected, as opposed to the embedded thunderstorms further southwest. The second half of the night will feature rainy conditions, but no issues with flooding are anticipated. Low temperatures overnight are expected to be in the upper 50s to near 60.
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&& .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... Weak upper troughing will progress overhead tomorrow, causing cloudy and showery conditions to linger through the day. With the thick cloud cover in place and easterly winds off the ocean, conditions will remain cool, with temperatures only reaching into the low 60s. Upper troughing will start to progress off to our south and east on Sunday. This should lead to a reduction in shower activity, with some breaks of sun developing by afternoon, especially to the west of the Blue Ridge. Low cloud cover and periods of drizzle may try to linger through the morning to the east of the Blue Ridge within easterly low-level flow, but some breaks in the clouds cover still appear likely there during the afternoon. Highs on Sunday are expected to reach into the 70s (warmer further west, cooler further east). && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... High pressure and dry conditions prevail for the start of the extended. Winds will be generally light, starting off out of the east early Monday, then becoming southerly return flow behind the center of high pressure as it moves east. This, combined with ample sunshine, will allow temperatures to rise into the upper 70s on Monday, and possibly into the 80s by Tuesday. A potent low pressure system moves from the Northern Plains into the Great Lakes on Wednesday, swinging a strong cold front through our area Wednesday into Thursday. The area will be well primed with temperatures in the 80s and ensembles indicating upwards of 1500 J/kg of CAPE. Shear is less certain, the more favorable shear arriving Wednesday night into Thursday. Much could stand to change this far out, but we will continue to monitor the severe threat for this system. && .AVIATION /01Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
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Ceilings are currently high end MVFR to low end VFR this evening, and should eventually drop back down to MVFR and then IFR later tonight. Coverage of showers and thunderstorms will increase through the evening into the first half of the overnight as a disturbance approaches from the southwest. CHO stands the greatest chance of having a thunderstorm overnight. The steadiest rainfall is expected during the second half of the night. Showers and IFR ceilings will linger across much of the area tomorrow into tomorrow night. Chances for showers will decrease on Sunday, but IFR to MVFR ceilings will continue. Winds will be out of the southeast tonight, and then east this weekend. VFR conditions are expected Monday and Tuesday with high pressure and dry conditions.
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&& .MARINE...
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Sub-SCA southeasterly winds are expected tonight. Winds turn easterly this weekend. Winds may reach SCA levels in easterly flow tomorrow. Sub-SCA criteria winds are expected Monday and Tuesday with light easterly winds to start on Monday turning out of the south. Winds increasing out of the south on Tuesday could result in some southerly channeling, but not currently expected.
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&& .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... Persistent onshore flow will continue through early next week. This will result in elevated tide levels. Minor flooding is expected in more sensitive locations over the next several tidal cycles. && .LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
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DC...Coastal Flood Advisory until 8 AM EDT Saturday for DCZ001. MD...Coastal Flood Advisory until 7 AM EDT Saturday for MDZ014. Coastal Flood Advisory until 3 AM EDT Saturday for MDZ016. Coastal Flood Advisory until 2 AM EDT Saturday for MDZ017-018. VA...Coastal Flood Advisory until 3 AM EDT Saturday for VAZ057. Flood Watch until 5 AM EDT Saturday for VAZ025>027-029-030- 036>040-050-051-503-504-507-508. WV...Flood Watch until 5 AM EDT Saturday for WVZ055-501-502-505-506. MARINE...None.
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&& $$ SYNOPSIS...KJP NEAR TERM...KJP SHORT TERM...KJP LONG TERM...CAS AVIATION...KJP/CAS MARINE...KJP/CAS TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...