Small Craft Advisory 11, NWS Melbourne, FL

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Melbourne FL
415 AM EST Fri Feb 24 2017

.DISCUSSION...

Today-Tonight...The low pressure center has pushed well east of the
coastal waters and is forecast to move slowly east/northeast through
tonight while weakening.  A trough trailing back into east central
Florida will sag to our south today and then weak high pressure will
build across the area tonight.

Considerable early morning stratus and patchy fog should dissipate
by late morning, due to a bit of a northeast wind surge behind
the trough. Extensive drying aloft has occurred behind the low
pressure system and a strong subsidence inversion will keep
moisture shallow, probably too shallow for any significant
coverage of Atlantic showers associated with the northeast wind
flow. Therefore will maintain a dry forecast.

The northeast winds will die out quickly this evening and winds will
go near calm.  Skies will be mostly clear, so areas of fog should
form after midnight.

Little temperature change is indicated, with readings continuing
well above normal.  Coastal sections will have highs around 80 while
a few interior sites might touch the mid 80s.

Saturday-Sunday...Southern extent of broadly cyclonic trough axis
over central Gulf coast daybreak Saturday transitions across FL
Saturday evening, with associated surface front reaching N CWA
early/mid evening and exiting S of Lake Okeechobee by around
sunrise Sunday. Front will move into very dry airmass, with mean
1000-500 mb RH near 30 percent. Narrow band of cloudiness will
accompany dry front, followed by brief visit of drier/cooler air
mass as post-frontal NW flow quickly transitions to N/NE by early
Sunday. Max temps Saturday lower/mid 80s, cooling to near 50 far
north and lower 60s SE coast by Sunday morning, then noticeably
cooler/drier Sunday with max temps near 70 along coast north of
the Cape where onshore trajectory will advect across cooler shelf
waters, ranging to mid upper 70s across much of remainder of CWA.

Monday-Wednesday...Zonal W/WSW flow develops and persists in between
sprawling NW Caribbean anticyclone and mid-latitude trough which
moves from northern Rockies to the Great Lakes early-mid week.
Mostly dry pattern continues, with cloudiness becoming more
dominant by Wednesday as return flow on western flank of Western
Atlantic high pressure gradually increases moisture levels by mid
week. Temps quickly rebound once again, reaching lower 80s Monday,
except upper 70s along the coast north of the Cape. Mid 80s return
for most areas Tuesday/Wednesday as flow becomes SE/S. One final
cool morning Monday across the north and interior (50s), except
mid/upper 60s along coast south of the Cape. Mild 60s area wide
Tue/Wed mornings.

Thursday...Weak upper disturbance to the north may allow a
weakening surface front to sag into CWA during the day, bringing
increased cloud cover and isolated/scattered showers. Considerable
discrepancies between timing and amount of moisture return
between GFS vs ECMWF. For now, favored slower and less moist ECM.
Remaining warm, with Thursday morning mins in 60s again but maxs
down several degrees given clouds/rain chances, especially north
half.

&&

.AVIATION...Considerable IFR stratus has been occurring
along/west of Interstate 4 while LIFR stratus was occurring along
the Space/Treasure Coast. The stratus should continue to expand
and by sunrise most of the terminals should be affected. Increased
boundary layer flow should mix out the stratus by 15z. The rest
of the day will be VFR. There is a chance for fog/stratus late
tonight again, especially along/west of Interstate 4.

&&

.MARINE...
Today...The low pressure center has pushed well east of the coastal
waters.  A slight northeast wind surge to near 20 knots across the
northern waters will shift southward then gradually diminish this
afternoon, as the low center pulls even farther away while weakening.

The latest wind forecast supports a straight advisory for the
offshore zones from Sebastian Inlet northward. Wave buoy
observations support an advisory for the nearshore northern zone.
Wave models have also been consistent in building sea heights
south/southwest due to a northeast swell. Think that with the low
pressure center pulling slowly away and weakening, an advisory for
seas for the nearshore zones north of Sebastian Inlet is
sufficient, as well as for the south offshore leg from Sebastian
Inlet to Jupiter Inlet.

Tonight...The pressure gradient will relax and guidance shows wind
speeds dropping below 10 knots.  Seas will likely remain 5-7 feet
offshore, but local policy is to not carry an advisory for seas when
winds are 5-10 knots.

Saturday-Sunday...light offshore flow early Saturday gives way to
NW/N wind surge near 20 knots spreading down the waters during
the evening/overnight behind frontal boundary. Flow veers NE and
lessens to 10-15 kt by Sunday afternoon. Seas 3-4 ft nearshore and
up to 6 ft offshore early Saturday builds to 4-5 ft nearshore and
6-7 ft offshore Sunday before beginning to subside overnight.
Isolated showers southern waters Saturday night/early Sunday.

Monday-Tuesday...Surface high builds over western Atlantic with
ridge axis extending west across central/southern peninsula. Light
winds veer E/SE Monday and SSE/S Tuesday. Seas 3-5 ft nearshore
Monday and 5-6 ft offshore subside to 3-4 ft nearshore and up to 5
ft offshore Tue. Isolated showers continue.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
DAB  78  59  82  53 /   0   0   0  10
MCO  83  60  83  55 /   0   0   0   0
MLB  79  62  83  58 /   0   0   0   0
VRB  80  60  83  61 /   0   0   0  10
LEE  83  62  82  53 /   0   0   0   0
SFB  82  60  82  55 /   0   0   0   0
ORL  82  62  82  56 /   0   0   0   0
FPR  80  59  83  60 /   0   0   0  10

&&

.MLB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...None.
AM...Small Craft Advisory for hazardous seas until 4 PM EST this
     afternoon for Flagler Beach to Volusia-Brevard County Line 0-20
     nm- Sebastian Inlet to Jupiter Inlet 20-60 nm-Volusia- Brevard
     County Line to Sebastian Inlet 0-20 nm.

     Small Craft Advisory until 4 PM EST this afternoon for Flagler
     Beach to Volusia-Brevard County Line 20-60 nm-Volusia-
     Brevard County Line to Sebastian Inlet 20-60 nm.

&&

SHORT TERM/AVIATION...Lascody
LONG TERM....Spratt

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Melbourne FL
520 AM EST Fri Feb 24 2017

AMZ550-552-555-570-572-575-FLZ041-044>047-053-054-058-059-064-141-
144-147-242300-
Flagler Beach to Volusia-Brevard County Line 0-20 nm-Volusia-
Brevard County Line to Sebastian Inlet 0-20 nm-
Sebastian Inlet to Jupiter Inlet 0-20 nm-Flagler Beach to Volusia-
Brevard County Line 20-60 nm-Volusia-
Brevard County Line to Sebastian Inlet 20-60 nm-
Sebastian Inlet to Jupiter Inlet 20-60 nm-Inland Volusia County-
Northern Lake County-Orange-Seminole-Southern Brevard County-
Osceola-Indian River-Okeechobee-St. Lucie-Martin-
Coastal Volusia County-Southern Lake County-
Northern Brevard County-
520 AM EST Fri Feb 24 2017

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

.RIP CURRENT IMPACT...
A northeast swell impacting the beaches will create rough surf
conditions and a moderate rip current risk. A stronger than normal
southward flowing longshore current is also expected. Check with
the beach patrol about ocean hazards and only enter the surf near
lifeguards.

.WIND AND SEA IMPACT...
Northerly winds and a northeast swell will continue to keep
boating conditions hazardous, especially northward from Sebastian
Inlet today. Winds will diminish considerably tonight but seas
will be slow to subside.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.
Moderate swells will continue Saturday, and even though winds
will be favorable for boating, transiting inlets during the
outgoing tide on Saturday could be hazardous for small vessels.

Northerly winds will increase again behind a cold front Saturday
night and result in poor to hazardous boating conditions into
Sunday.

Beach conditions will also be poor to hazardous into early next
week due to rough surf or dangerous rip currents.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
Spotter activation will not be needed today.

Lascody