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FXUS61 KOKX 052122
AFDOKX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service New York NY
422 PM EST Fri Jan 5 2024

.SYNOPSIS...
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High pressure builds in from the southwest tonight and then passes offshore in the morning. Deepening low pressure approaches from the southern states on Saturday, passing to the south and east Saturday night into Sunday. High pressure builds in on Monday and stays in control through early Tuesday. A strong low pressure system will track to our west and impact the area late Tuesday through Wednesday. High pressure then slowly builds in from the south on Thursday.
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&& .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SATURDAY MORNING/...
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Ridging both aloft and at the surface builds east tonight and across the area. There will be some high level clouds increasing overnight ahead of the next system, especially toward daybreak. Thus, with the combination of mainly clear skies and diminishing winds, leaned toward a blend of the colder MET/MAV MOS (versus NBM). Lows are forecast to range from the upper teens to around 20 inland, to the lower and mid 20s most other locations, except 25 to 30 NYC/NJ metro.
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&& .SHORT TERM /6 AM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY/...
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For the last several days, models have been forecasting low pressure to move out of the southeast U.S. on Saturday, passing to the south and east of the area Saturday night into Sunday. Changes with the latest set of guidance have been generally minor with subtle shifts in the low track. The trend has been for a slightly farther track to the north over the last 24h. With retreating high pressure across eastern Canada and strong easterly flow developing late Saturday, coastal locations will see a warming boundary layer, and eventually a warm nose aloft in the southerly flow. Airmass is very marginal for a period of snow at the coast, but inland a different story with the bulk of the liquid falling as snow. Liquid equivalents for this event are generally 0.7 to 1.0", highest across interior NE NJ. The heaviest precipitation will occur on the front end of the system Saturday evening, courtesy of deep-layered lift. The primary lifting mechanisms include an upper jet working in from the south and strong 85-70h frontogenetic. In fact, should this precipitation move in earlier than currently forecast, coastal locations could see a burst of moderate/heavy snow, especially for western LI and the NYC/NJ metro. These areas have the potential for 1 to 3 inches. The SW CT coast looks cold enough to support advisory level snow of 2 to 4 inches. For interior NE NJ, the Lower Hudson Valley, and interior SW CT, looking for anywhere from 5 to 10 inches, highest across western portions of Orange County NY. These locations have all been updated to a winter storm warning. For interior sections of SE CT, confidence is a bit lower to reach warning level criteria (6") due to a warming boundary layer in a strong easterly flow off the Atlantic. So for the time, will stay with a watch for this area. Once gain, much of the heavy precipitation will be on the front end, should this occur even earlier, it`s possible totals will be increased at the coast; vice versa, lower totals if the onset is delayed. As the mid levels dry out, the second half of the night will feature light rain/drizzle at the coast, with snow possibly mixed with rain and/or drizzle inland. East winds will ramp up late Saturday afternoon/early evening, 15 to 25 mph, with gusts up to 35 mph, highest at the coast. As the low pulls out to the east on Sunday, there will likely be some light precipitation that goes back to snow even at the coast, but with temperatures above freezing, any accumulations would be minor. Winds will back around to the N/NE Sunday on the backside of the low, with gusts dropping off to around 20 mph.
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&& .LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
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*Key Points* * A strong low pressure system will impact the area late Tuesday through Wednesday, with wind and flooding impacts likely. Quiet weather is expected Monday and Monday night as high pressure shifts through the area. Main focus then turns to a strong low pressure system that will bring strong winds and flooding impacts to the region. Deterministic and ensemble guidance continues to be in great agreement with little change from run to run over the past several days. This is leading to unusually higher than normal forecast confidence this far out. A shortwave trough will enter the northwest CONUS Saturday morning and dig down to the Southern Plains before closing off and lifting northeast. The associated surface low will track west of our area, with all of the latest deterministic guidance showing a sub 980mb low by the time it reaches the Great Lakes. This will place the area under a very tight pressure gradient as a ~1030mb high will be departing to our east. Confidence continues to increase in strong winds, with the potential for damaging winds (mainly across Long Island and the southeast CT coast). The heavy rain is the other hazard as flooding impacts are expected (see hydrology section below). This storm will bring mainly plain rain to the area. However, with cold air in place across the interior, a wintry mix is possible at the start of the event. This includes the potential for a brief period of freezing rain as warm air moves in aloft, but the surface remains cold, before warm air take over the entire area. Confidence of the freezing rain remains low at this point and this will also depend on timing of precip moving in. Will continue to keep this out of the forecast for now. By Tuesday night, temperatures warm for the entire region to see plain rain, and most of this rainfall will be moderate to heavy in nature. Most of the heavy rain comes to an end Wednesday morning, with any leftover showers ending Wednesday afternoon. High pressure then starts to build back into the region on Thursday. A weak shortwave passes north of the region on Friday. This could set of a few showers across area. Will keep just some chance POPs in the forecast for now.
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&& .AVIATION /21Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
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VFR through early Saturday afternoon as high pressure over the region slides off the Mid Atlantic coast tonight. Low pressure approaches from the southwest Saturday morning. There is a low chance of MVFR developing toward 18Z along the coast, depending on the timing of the low. W to NW flow 10kt or less becomes light and variable this evening and overnight. East to NE winds develop Saturday morning. NY Metro (KEWR/KLGA/KJFK/KTEB) TAF Uncertainty... No unscheduled amendments expected. OUTLOOK FOR 18Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY... Saturday afternoon: MVFR, IFR likely especially late in the afternoon. Snow/rain along the coast, possibly becoming all rain late. Snow inland. Saturday Night: IFR or lower. Snow inland and rain/snow near the coast, becoming all rain. E/NE winds 15-20kt gusting 25-35kt. Sunday: IFR or lower with snow inland and rain/snow near the coast. NYC metro and coast may end as snow late in the afternoon. Becoming VFR late. NW winds becoming N 10-15kt, gusting 20-30kt, diminishing during the afternoon. Monday: VFR. Tuesday: VFR early becoming MVFR or lower. Rain during the afternoon. E winds 15-20kt with gusts 25-30kt in the afternoon. SE winds increasing Tuesday night to 25-35kt, gusting 35-45kt, highest winds along the coast. LLWS likely at night. Wednesday: MVFR or lower with rain in the morning. Rain ending late in the day with conditions improving. S SW wind 25-35kt gusting 30-35kt. Detailed information, including hourly TAF wind component forecasts, can be found at: https:/www.weather.gov/zny/n90
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&& .MARINE...
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Gales warning have been issued for all waters for late Saturday afternoon and night due to easterly winds ramping up ahead of a deepening coastal low. Gusts of 35 to 40 kt can be expected with seas building to 7 to 10 ft on the ocean, and 4 to 8 ft across portions of LI sound. Winds will then back around to the N/NE Sunday and gradually diminish. Seas will remain high on the ocean waters. Lingering 5 to 6 ft waves are expected on the ocean waters on Monday. Otherwise, quiet conditions on the waters expected until late Tuesday. Strong low pressure will then track to the west and impact the area through Wednesday. Gale force wind gusts look likely on all waters, as well as the potential for storm force gusts. Waves on the ocean waters look to reach 15 to 20 ft. Continued mention of gales and storm force gusts in the HWO.
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&& .HYDROLOGY...
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Hydrologic impacts, including river flooding, are likely late Tuesday into Wednesday as strong low pressure passes west of the area. The NBM currently has a 70 to 90% chance across much of the area for seeing 2 inches in 24 hours and a 50 to 70% chance of 3 inches. This would be on top of whatever snow pack there is from this weekend`s storm. The Weather Prediction Center has placed much of the area in a Day 5 "slight risk" and a portion of NE NJ and the Lower Hudson Valley in a "Moderate risk" for excessive rainfall.
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&& .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... Widespread minor coastal flooding possible with the Sunday morning high tide, especially along the southern and eastern bays of LI and LI Sound. Isolated dune erosion expected during the Sunday morning high tide, overwashes not expected. && .OKX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
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CT...Winter Storm Warning from 4 PM Saturday to 6 PM EST Sunday for CTZ005-006. Winter Storm Watch from Saturday evening through Sunday afternoon for CTZ007-008. Winter Weather Advisory from 4 PM Saturday to 11 AM EST Sunday for CTZ009-010. Coastal Flood Advisory from 5 AM to 10 AM EST Sunday for CTZ009>012. NY...Winter Storm Warning from 4 PM Saturday to 6 PM EST Sunday for NYZ067>070. Winter Weather Advisory from 4 PM Saturday to 11 AM EST Sunday for NYZ071. Coastal Flood Advisory from 5 AM to 10 AM EST Sunday for NYZ071-078-177. Coastal Flood Advisory from 2 AM to 10 AM EST Sunday for NYZ079>081-179. NJ...Winter Storm Warning from 4 PM Saturday to 6 PM EST Sunday for NJZ002-103. Winter Weather Advisory from 4 PM Saturday to 11 AM EST Sunday for NJZ004-104-105-107. MARINE...Gale Warning from 5 PM Saturday to 5 AM EST Sunday for ANZ331- 332-335-338-340-345-350-353-355.
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&& $$ SYNOPSIS...BC/DW NEAR TERM...DW SHORT TERM...DW LONG TERM...BC AVIATION...MET MARINE...BC/DW HYDROLOGY...BC/DW TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...//