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FXUS61 KOKX 211816
AFDOKX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service New York NY
216 PM EDT Fri Jul 21 2023

.SYNOPSIS...
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Low pressure tracks through the Northeast today, with an attendant cold front moving through the region tonight. Weak high pressure gradually pushes into the region for the weekend and remains in control through late next week.
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&& .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
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Broad upper troughing remains over the Northeast and Great Lakes regions today while a shortwave swings through to our north. At the surface, low pressure tracks along the Saint Lawrence River Valley, with a weak secondary to our south along the Mid-Atlantic coast. Daytime heating and some clearing have allowed scattered showers and thunderstorms to begin development and should remain until the loss of daytime heating this evening followed by clearing from a cold front, west to east. The main concern with this system will be the potential for flooding, especially with antecedent moist soil conditions from the recent rounds of rainfall. Moisture deepens with PWATs increasing on the order of 1.6 to 1.75 inches. Upward forcing to help maximize the rainfall amount potential will come in the form of upper level divergence as a the left-exit region of a jet streak moves in, shortwave lift in the mid-levels, and low level forcing/moisture convergence along the nearby frontal boundaries and low centers. Overall QPF should average between 0.5 to 1.5 inches for most, with the greatest amounts amounts to the north and west. Given the convective nature, locally higher amounts are expected. WPC has kept a slight risk for excessive rainfall for all except far eastern areas, indicating the potential for scattered areas of flash flooding. Given recent rains, it will not take much to cause issues, particularly over the lower Hudson Valley, as well as NE NJ and the urban centers. In addition to the heavy rainfall threat, isolated strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible. There is a veering profile through the mid-levels with 0-6 km bulk shear of 25-35 kt, supporting updraft maintenance and the threat of supercell development with several storms around noon having developed broad rotation. SPC`s Mesoanalysis is giving a broad area of Connecticut between 2-4 for supercell composite. With the environmental CAPE and daytime heating expected to be better this evening, this will be the best chance for severe weather. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued until 8PM for areas of southern Connecticut Putnam and Westchester counties. Areas of enhanced updraft helicity may also come into play with the triple point and offshore low centers nearby. SPC has increased the risk to slight for the region, primarily for damaging winds, though the risk of an isolated tornado or some hail remains a possibility. The cold front looks to move through in the evening hours, around 00z for NYC and the metro, and through eastern areas by 6z, bringing an end to the threat of showers and thunderstorms as it moves east. Conditions dry out overnight as the flow turns WNW behind the fropa. Temperatures bottom out in the 60s by daybreak Saturday.
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&& .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/...
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Upper troughing lingers but drier conditions greet us to start the weekend, as weak surface high pressure builds in from the west behind the fropa. Dew points should drop a tad from previous days with the light WNW flow, though likely still in the low to mid 60s, with afternoon highs close to seasonal normals, in the low to mid 80s. Sunshine prevails with a bit of mid-level cu at times. Mostly clear skies and light winds Saturday night may allow some of the far interior and LI Pine Barrens to drop into the 50s overnight, with the remainder of the region in the 60s. A consensus of MOS guidance was used for temperatures Saturday night to account for this.
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&& .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
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The flow aloft will be slightly cyclonic on Sunday with weak high pressure at the surface. Dry weather and not so muggy with afternoon dewpoints falling into the upper 50s to lower 60s. High temperatures will be near normal. For Monday, the flow aloft becomes more cyclonic, and with boundary-layer dewpoints a little higher this time, CAPEs will also be higher. Might not take much supplemental mechanical forcing for diurnal convection to pop up as capping appears to be weak. Best chances would be from around the city to points north and west. The flow aloft should be weak, so a limited severe wx threat in any pulse-type thunderstorms. More of the same for Tuesday as the axis of the trough aloft moves closer to us. This axis is progged to shift through during Wednesday, however in a dampened state. So with more of a flatter flow aloft and stronger capping beneath, only isolated showers and thunderstorms possible NW of the city. High temperatures for both Tuesday and Wednesday remaining near normal. The flat flow aloft holds for Thursday and Friday with some models suggesting a shortwave moving through or nearby during Friday into Friday night. Will go with a dry forecast for Thursday, then low chances of showers and thunderstorms for Friday. Temperatures at the top of the boundary layer rise through this period. So in the absence of significant cloud cover, highs on Thursday average around 90. Even hotter for Friday based on progged 850mb temps of 18-20C. 75th percentile NBM for highs are possible, but with this being a week away, will go with the cooler deterministic NBM for now. The first heat advisories of the season may be needed for the Thursday- Friday period.
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&& .AVIATION /18Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... A warm front will pass east this afternoon, followed by a cold frontal passage this evening. Weak high pressure will follow thereafter into Saturday. Tricky situation regarding thunder especially for the NYC metros, which sit just W of current radar activity. Opted to go with vicinity impact this afternoon given current showers/tstms over Long Island/S CT plus potential for additional convection to develop elsewhere mainly before 22Z. Also went with vicinity impact with the cold frontal passage this evening due to uncertainties in timing/coverage. Winds before cold fropa S-SE 5-10 kt from JFK east, and W-SW 5-10 kt inland. Winds after fropa tonight shift NW less than 10 kt. ...NY Metro (KEWR/KLGA/KJFK/KTEB) TAF Uncertainty... AMD possible if direct tstm impact becomes more certain. The afternoon KJFK/KLGA/KEWR haze potential forecast is YELLOW, which implies slant range visibility 4-6SM outside of cloud. OUTLOOK FOR 18Z SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... Saturday afternoon through Sunday night: VFR. Monday: Mainly VFR. Slight chance of a late day shower/tstm KSWF. Tuesday: Chance of afternoon showers/tstms with brief MVFR/IFR vsby from the NYC metros north/west. Wednesday: VFR. Detailed information, including hourly TAF wind component forecasts, can be found at: https:/www.weather.gov/zny/n90 && .MARINE... A Marine Weather Statement is in effect for the Long Island Sound. The National Weather Service in coordination with the United States Coast Guard have received reports of a large debris field across Long Island Sound, caused by recent flooding across New England. This will create some hazards for boaters, swimmers, and watercraft in the affected area. The debris vary from trees, logs, coolers, and docks and may not be easily visible. Sub SCA conditions prevail through the weekend and into early next week with a weak pressure gradient in place. && .HYDROLOGY...
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A frontal system is expected to produce between 0.5 to 1.5 inches of rainfall across much of the area through this evening, with locally higher amounts expected. Flash flood guidance thresholds are lower than normal due to recent rains, with 1-hour thresholds being most susceptible of being met. The main limiting factors appear the forward motion of storms and low confidence in cell training, however some backbuilding is expected. WPC has maintained a slight risk of excessive rainfall for all but SE CT and eastern LI, indicating isolated to scattered areas of flash flooding possible. No significant widespread rainfall is expected from Saturday through mid next week.
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&& .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... NYC and Nassau Co beaches have a low risk for rip current development today, with Suffolk Co beaches in a moderate risk. The moderate risk remains in effect for only eastern Suffolk on Saturday, with a low rip risk elsewhere. && .OKX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CT...None. NY...None. NJ...None. MARINE...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...JC/BR NEAR TERM...BR SHORT TERM...BR LONG TERM...JC AVIATION...BG MARINE...JC/BR HYDROLOGY...JC/BR TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...