Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Sterling, VA

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000 FXUS61 KLWX 070800 AFDLWX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 400 AM EDT Tue Sep 7 2021 .SYNOPSIS...
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High pressure will remain over the area today. A cold front will progress through the area during the middle of the week with high pressure building in by late in the work week and into the weekend.
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&& .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
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Latest analysis depicts high pressure sprawled across the region. A cold front is crossing the northern Plains a general east-southeast trajectory. Aloft, a weak broad trough sits over the eastern US with a weak ridge over the Corn Belt and a stronger shortwave diving southeast across the northern Plains. For today, dry weather and sunshine will dominate under the high pressure. Temperatures will nudge a little warmer than yesterday as the flow turns back to a bit more southwest, but overall, not much difference from the bulk of yesterday. Highs mostly in the 80s. Clouds will start to increase as the system over the northern plains starts to approach tonight, and combined with a stronger southerly flow, temperatures will stay a bit milder, with most places remaining in the 60s. Otherwise, it should remain dry.
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&& .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/...
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Warm advection will continue on Wednesday as the strengthening southerly flow brings warmer, more moist air northward across the region. A weak disturbance embedded within the broad southwest flow aloft may make use of this increasing warmth and moisture to cause spotty showers or even t-storms across mainly eastern parts of the forecast area by midday into the afternoon, but the bulk of Wednesday looks very warm, more humid, breezy but otherwise dry with some sun. Cold front plowing into this air mass late in the day into the night Wednesday will bring two threats. First, enough instability will be present late in the day into the evening to bring at least an isolated severe weather risk, with damaging winds being the main threat. As the night wears on and the front slows a little while the storms potentially congeal into a more focused band of heavy rain, an isolated flood threat may emerge. For these reasons, a marginal risk of severe weather and flash flooding exists later Wednesday into Wednesday night. Front is slow to clear the region as the large trough aloft slowly swings through on Thursday. This will cause clouds to linger, and in fact, a few isolated showers or storms could develop along the Allegheny Front later in the day thanks to instability from the upper trough`s passage. Further east, the bulk of the day looks dry, but showers may linger early, especially east of I-95. The cooler air mass and lingering clouds likely keep temps below normal, with highs struggling to reach 80.
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&& .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
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High pressure will dominate much of the long term forecast period, with mostly clear skies and dry weather on tap. Below normal temperatures ranging from the 60s in the mountains to near 80 degrees elsewhere will exist on Friday as the high over the central U.S. nudges into the Mid-Atlantic region. The high will transit the region Friday night and begin to shift offshore Saturday with continued mostly clear skies and dry conditions. Seasonable temperatures Saturday will moderate to slightly above normal by Sunday as a return flow sets up with the core of the high situated offshore. Low pressure tracking well north of the Great Lakes late Sunday into Monday may drop a frontal boundary into Pennsylvania. Coupled with a weak shortwave aloft, can`t rule out a shower or two across our far northern and northwest zones in Maryland and adjacent eastern West Virginia counties. That being said, slight chance POPs at best will exist in the forecast database for now Sunday afternoon and evening. Dry and seasonable conditions will exist Monday as we remain on the western flank of the high over the Atlantic and overall zonal flow aloft, while temperatures trend near to slightly above normal for the middle of September.
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&& .AVIATION /08Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
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Mainly VFR thru tonight all terminals. Intervals of sub-VFR possible later Wednesday with scattered showers and t-storms, with this becoming more likely Wednesday night when a more widespread band of showers and thunderstorms may move through with the passing cold front. The risk of sub-VFR should dwindle quickly after dawn Thursday as drier air slowly builds back in. High pressure over the central U.S. will build into the region Friday, beginning to shift offshore Saturday. Resultant weather will be VFR with mostly clear skies and dry conditions. Light northwesterly winds Friday will turn southerly on Saturday, remaining at less than 10 knots.
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&& .MARINE...
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Light winds to start today, but as high pressure slides off the coast and a cold front approaches from the northwest, southerly channeling should result in fairly widespread SCA conditions tonight into Wednesday. Isolated strong storms may required special marine warnings later Wednesday into Wednesday night. Winds relax with a rapidly dwindling threat of further strong storms late Wednesday night into Thursday as the front passes. SCA gusts will be possible early Friday as high pressure over the central U.S. builds into the region. Thereafter, the high will transit the area Friday night, shifting offshore on Saturday. Light northwest winds Friday afternoon and night will turn light and southerly Saturday, with sub SCA conditions likely.
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&& .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
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Southerly breezes will return today through Wednesday, allowing for tidal anomalies to creep upward and bring a threat for minor tidal flooding. Current forecast brings minor flooding to Annapolis with the high tide cycles late tonight and during the day on Wednesday. Many other sites will achieve action stage, with DC Southwest Waterfront flirting close to minor during this time period as well. A cold front will push through the area Wednesday and early Thursday, allowing winds to turn offshore, producing lowering anomalies, and lessening the threat for tidal flooding through the end of the work week.
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&& .LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
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DC...None. MD...None. VA...None. WV...None. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from 6 PM this evening to 6 PM EDT Wednesday for ANZ531>534-537-539>543. Small Craft Advisory from 6 AM to 6 PM EDT Wednesday for ANZ530-538.
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&& $$ SYNOPSIS...BKF/RCM NEAR TERM...RCM SHORT TERM...RCM LONG TERM...BKF AVIATION...BKF/RCM MARINE...BKF/RCM TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...BKF

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