916 FXUS62 KMHX 130629 AFDMHXArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC 229 AM EDT Sat Sep 13 2025
.SYNOPSIS... High pressure builds in from the north through this weekend. Early next week an offshore front and low pressure meander closer to the coast which may bring more unsettled conditions to ENC.
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.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TODAY/... As of 200 AM Sat...
Almost a carbon copy of yesterday with northeast flow still in place over eastern NC and the upper trough in place overhead with the coastal front still pinned over the Gulf Stream. The surface high that was over New England will begin to break down and weaken but this should have little effect on sensible weather except maybe a shower or two straying closer to the southern coast. Highs will make it into the 80s at most locations outside of the OBX where upper 70s may be more likely. Expect partly cloudy skies in most locations.
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.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT/... As of 200 AM Sat...The center of the surface low offshore will creep northward overnight but of little consequence to eastern NC as the upper trough begins to get cutoff. Again a stray shower or two could linger near the coastal areas but for the most part conditions should remain dry. Low temperatures will dive into the upper 50s inland with low to mid 60s along the coast.
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.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... As of 200 AM Saturday...
-Dry for Sunday
-Rain chances associated with coastal low pick up next week
Models are in better agreement on a low pressure system off of the NC coast but the level of organization and intensity differs depending on the model with the NAM developing it more vigorously than the EC or the GFS. The other piece of the puzzle is the upper trough becoming cutoff completely and remaining stationary somewhere over the Carolinas. More southerly and inland solutions bring more rain to the eastern part of the state early next week and through midweek. More northerly solutions tend to keep most of the moisture offshore so we will need to watch how this evolves but safe to say rain chances increasing quite a bit for midweek. By the end of the week this feature will either move northward or remain stationary but weaken and dissipate. Attention will then turn to a potential new low coming off of the FL coast for next weekend.
High temperatures generally in the low 80s for much of the week with lows early in the week in the upper 50s inland to low to mid 60s along the coast, moderating into the low to mid 60s everywhere by the middle of next week. Temperatures rise into the mid 80s for most locations by the end of the week.
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.AVIATION /07Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... SHORT TERM /through Saturday/... As of 2 AM Saturday...Predominantly VFR conditions expected through the period. Observations and some model guidance indicate a scattered cloud deck around 3-4 kft is pushing westward across the northern portions of the forecast area and may bring some temporary scattered low clouds to PGV through 7-8Z, but expect conditions to remain VFR as these clouds quickly push through. Otherwise, with drier conditions compared to last night and light winds persisting across much of ENC, expect VFR conditions to continue through the overnight hours for all terminals. Northeast winds again increase Saturday with gusts of 15-20 knots expected for all terminals. Outside of gusty winds, will see VFR conditions for all TAF sites.
LONG TERM /Saturday night through Wednesday/... As of 2 AM Saturday...Chance for patchy fog overnight into the early morning hours through the weekend as clear skies and light winds inland provide decent radiational cooling conditions. Otherwise, VFR flight conditions expected through the long term, with gusty N/NE winds along the coast.
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.MARINE... SHORT TERM /through Saturday night/... As of 2 AM Saturday...
Key Messages...
- Small craft conditions continue across most of the coastal waters and Pamlico Sound through tomorrow night - New SCA has been raised for the northern coastal waters for seas of 4-6 ft with conditions persisting through the period
Latest obs show NE winds 15-20 kt (gusts around 25 knots) with seas 5-7 ft, highest south of Oregon Inlet. SCAs remain in place for the coastal waters and the Pamlico Sound. Winds have decreased slightly from Friday, even falling below SCA criteria at times tonight across the Pamlico Sound and coastal waters as high pressure ridging builds over the Carolinas and surface front offshore weakens slightly. However, weak low pressure will develop along the stalled front and tighten the pressure gradient some on Saturday, allowing for winds to again increase to 15-20 kts with gusts in excess of 25 kts across the Pamlico Sound and Coastal Waters south of Oregon Inlet. This will allow for SCAs to continue through the rest of the period in these waters. 15-20 kt NE`rly winds will be found across our other waters which should generally keep them at below headline thresholds. The lone exception is across the northern Coastal Waters where waves have gradually built to 4-6 feet as of 2 AM Saturday, yielding SCA conditions that will persist through the rest of the period.
LONG TERM /Sunday through Wednesday/... As of 2 AM Saturday...
Key Messages:
- Gusty northerly winds continue through the long term
- Small Craft Advisory conditions persist into early next week
- High uncertainty in the marine forecast for next week
Pressure gradient tightens again on Saturday between a building high inland and a strengthening trough offshore. This increases winds to around 15-25 kts with gusts to 30 kts and seas to 5-7 ft, with small craft conditions persisting through much of the weekend. Early next week, a weak low may form off the SE coast. Model guidance remains uncertain regarding the strength, location, and track of the low, should it even develop. Some solutions indicate the low will be weaker, which may allow SCA conditions to gradually taper off through the early part of the work week, while other solutions depict a stronger low that may yield another round of gusty winds and high seas. As a result, higher than normal level of uncertainty with the magnitude of the winds at the end of the long term period.
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.TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... As of 2 AM Saturday...Similar to the past few days, higher than normal astronomical tides continue to produce elevated waters levels along the coast and tidal waterways from Ocracoke Inlet to Surf City. Depending on tide fluctuations, water levels will at most be 1 to 2 feet above ground level during periods of high tide. The coastal flood advisory remains in effect until 18Z (2 PM EDT) Saturday for portions of the Eastern North Carolina coastline for the higher tides. Afterwards the ongoing higher tide cycle will be on the down trend and minimal impacts if any are expected after Saturday afternoon. Any impacts that do occur are expected to be minor.
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.MHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NC...Coastal Flood Advisory until 2 PM EDT this afternoon for NCZ195-196-199. Beach Hazards Statement from 7 AM EDT this morning through this evening for NCZ203-205. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for AMZ135. Small Craft Advisory until 9 AM EDT Wednesday for AMZ150-152- 154. Small Craft Advisory until 2 AM EDT Wednesday for AMZ156-158.
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SYNOPSIS...MHX NEAR TERM...RTE SHORT TERM...RTE LONG TERM...RTE AVIATION...ZC MARINE...ZC TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...MHX
NWS MHX Office Area Forecast Discussion