462 FXUS61 KAKQ 241101 AFDAKQAREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Wakefield VA 701 AM EDT Wed Sep 24 2025
.SYNOPSIS... High pressure slides farther offshore today through Thursday bringing very warm temperatures and more humid conditions. A slow moving cold front moves into the area Thursday night and Friday, with an upper trough settling over the Southeast by the weekend. This will bring more unsettled conditions late this week into the weekend.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 355 AM EDT Wednesday...
Key Messages:
- Mainly dry and rather warm today with some late day and early evening showers and thunderstorms possible north and northwest of the Richmond metro.
GOES water vapor channels depict a longwave trough from surrounding a closed low over the Great Lakes with the axis lagging back into the central Plains. Meanwhile, a broad ridge is located over the Subtropical western Atlantic. There is WSW flow aloft ahead of the upper trough from the Mid-South through the Ohio Valley, with several shortwave features noted within the broader flow. At the surface, high pressure is centered offshore, with a lee-side trough over the Piedmont, and a wavy cold front well to the NW associated with the upper trough. Mostly clear early this morning and rather warm for late September with temperatures in the mid 60s to around 70F. Patchy fog/stratus is possible early this morning across interior NE NC and s-central VA.
WSW flow aloft prevails today into tonight with much of the local area under the influence of the upper ridge. Weak shortwave energy sliding N of the region could trigger a few afternoon/early evening showers/tstms across the northern tier of the area, with PoPs mainly 20-40% for these locations, and locally 30-50% for the NW Piedmont. Otherwise, partly to mostly sunny today and rather warm for late September with highs in the mid 80s to near 90F. Partly cloudy and mainly dry tonight aside from some lingering showers across the N. Warm and humid with lows in the upper 60s to around 70F.
&&
.SHORT TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... As of 355 AM EDT Wednesday...
Key Messages:
- The upper height pattern amplifies for the second half of the week with a deep trough taking shape over the Mississippi River Valley, translating E and NE Thursday into Friday.
The upper low over the Great Lakes becomes an open wave and shifts to New England Thursday into Friday. Meanwhile, another upper low develops on the tail end of the broader upper trough and settles over the Mid-South by Friday. During this time, the upper ridge remains offshore over the western Atlantic. The cold front associated with the upper trough slows down as it approaches the local area later Thursday into Thursday night, before finally dropping into the area Friday. Given the split in the upper pattern, the best forcing with the northern wave remains N of the local area, while better ascent with the developing upper low initially remains to the SW. Therefore, despite PW values 150-180% of normal (1.8 to nearly 2.0"), less coverage of heavy rain is expected Thursday and Friday as any convection should be less organized with lesser broad scale lift locally. Thursday morning to early afternoon should be mainly dry, with some showers/tstms across the N later in the afternoon and evening. Lesser coverage is expected with the diurnal cycle later Thursday night into early Friday, with redevelopment expected over SE VA/NE NC Friday. The severe risk is low Thursday (marginal, level 1 of 5) with the main threat being damaging wind gusts. Highs Thursday will again be in the mid 80s to near 90F, then not quite as warm Friday with highs in the lower 80s, after morning lows in the mid 60s to around 70F.
&&
.LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 355 AM EDT Wednesday...
Key Messages:
- Unsettled pattern continues this weekend into early next week with near seasonal temperatures.
The upper trough lingers over the Mid-South Saturday and slowly lifts to the NE Sunday. The weekend is trending more unsettled with the 00z/24 EPS showing more QPF than the 00z/24 GEFS. The EPS returns PW values to 150-180% of normal while generally 130- 150% of normal in the GEFS. Highs Saturday and Sunday are mainly in the mid/upper 70s, with lows in the 60s. The upper trough remains over the Mid-Atalntic and Southeast early next week as strong high pressure builds SE across Ontario and Quebec. Meanwhile, the ECWMF/GFS/CMC and the EPS/GEFS ensembles are showing increasing confidence of tropical development in vicinity of the Gulf Stream (AL94 with AL93 farther offshore). How much if any impact this has locally remains a low confidence forecast, but it is worth monitoring. Regardless, rain chances linger into early next week. High temperatures will mainly be in the 70s early next week with lows in the upper 50s to mid 60s.
&&
.AVIATION /12Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 700 AM EDT Wednesday...
High pressure is centered offshore as of 11z. VFR with FEW-SCT mid and high clouds and a light southerly wind at most sites, with LIFR conditions in fog at ECG. Fog should lift at ECG by 13z. Elsewhere, there is a low probability of brief vsby restrictions ~12z. Otherwise, VFR conditions should prevail later this morning through the aftn and into tonight. A 20-30% chc of showers and possibly a tstm arrive from RIC-SBY later this aftn and evening. The wind will mainly be SW 5-10kt today with a shift to SSE along the coast by mid-aftn. Any lingering showers are expected to dissipate later tonight. Patchy fog/stratus are possible again late tonight and toward 12z Thursday.
A cold front slowly crosses the region Thursday and Friday. Showers are likely with a few tstms possible during the aftn hours. Occasional sub-VFR conditions are expected. A chc of showers lingers into Saturday and potentially Sunday as well.
&&
.MARINE... As of 403 AM EDT Wednesday...
Key Messages:
- Winds increase later today between 10 to 15 kt out of the SSE potentially leading to a brief SCA conditions across bay.
- Moderate rip risk for all beaches today.
- Another chance of SCA wind conditions return Thursday into Friday night primarily for the Ocean Zones.
Morning analysis shows a 1018mb high pressure just off the east coast. This high is allowing winds to generally be out of the SSE around 10 kt. Seas this morning have subsided from yesterday and are between 3 to 4 ft across the ocean and 1 to 2 ft across the bay. Through the day winds will begin to increase as the pressure gradient from the the high pressure to the east and low pressure developing to the west tightens. Winds will continue to remain out of the SSE between 10 to 15 kt. There is the potential late this afternoon and into this evening that there could be some brief 20kt gusts across the bay. However, local wind probs remain between 30 to 40% of frequent gusts at or above 18 kt, the pressure gradient does not look to be as tight, and typically SSE winds tend to under perform over the waters. Therefore, no SCA have been issued for the bay at this time. Seas through the day will generally remain benign with waves between 3 to 4 ft across the ocean and 1 to 2 ft across the bay. Through tonight and into Thursday morning winds will remain around 10 kt before increasing to 10 to 15 kt across the bay and 15 to 20 kt with possible gusts nearing 25 kt across the ocean as the pressure gradient tightens ahead of an approaching front. This could lead to a brief period of SCA for the ocean waters. In addition, local wind probs increase across the ocean to 40 to 50% of wind gusts at or above 25kt. Seas on Thursday will continue to be around 1 to 2 ft across the bay and 3 to 4 ft across the ocean. However, will note, depending on the exact direction of the wind thursday, it could potentially build seas to 5 ft across the northern ocean zones and SCA maybe issued. However, confidence is low at this time and trends will be monitored. By Friday the front will stall leading to weaker winds and leading to low confidence in the wind direction. By the weekend, high pressure will build in bringing benign marine conditions across the local waters.
Moderate rip risk is in the forecast for today. Although the swell will gradually subside today , it will still be at 3 to 4 feet which combined with the long period of 10 to 11 sec.
&&
.AKQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...None. NC...None. VA...None. MARINE...None.
&&
$$
SYNOPSIS...AJZ/RHR NEAR TERM...AJZ SHORT TERM...AJZ LONG TERM...AJZ AVIATION...AJZ MARINE...HET
NWS AKQ Office Area Forecast Discussion