NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 7, 5:15 PM EST, 31 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 7, 5:15 PM EST, 31 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
615 PM EDT Mon Aug 7 2023
.SYNOPSIS...
Strong low pressure tracking from the Great Lakes to Ontario
brings showers and thunderstorms for Monday, some of which may
be severe. The low pulls away into Tuesday and high pressure
briefly settles in for the middle part of the week. Another
disturbance will arrive Thursday and bring an unsettled pattern
to close out the workweek.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY/...
Tornado Watch 605 has been expanded to include all of our
region.
Warm front appears to be north of our region while the cold
front over the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley continues to approach.
Although some isolated showers are developing out ahead of the
main line, the main line is just about to move into our region.
These storms have a history of producing damaging winds. High
res short term guidance shows storms likely to maintain strength
through roughly the I-95 corridor.
A significant severe weather outbreak continues to shape up
over the local area. Southerly flow continues to usher a warm
and humid airmass with surface dew points in the low to mid 70s.
with temperatures in the 80s, surface-based CAPE values are
already ranging from 2000 to 3000 J/kg in Delmarva, and
otherwise 1000 to 2000 J/kg, with values around 1000 J/kg in
northern New Jersey and the southern Poconos. Although clouds
remain over the area, latest satellite image showing that there
are breaks. If even a few hours of heating can occur, then those
CAPE values will rise even more, especially in the southern
areas.
Winds aloft will ramp up, with two areas of 40 kt to 50 kt
winds at 850 mb to 500 mb approaching in the 00Z to 03Z time
frame, and winds from 925 mb to 850 mb increase to 30 kt to 40
kt. One area move through southeast Pennsylvania and into
northern New Jersey, while the other area moves into Delmarva.
In addition, 0-3 km Helicity will increase to 100 m^2/s^2 to 200
m^2/s^2. Latest CAMS suggest a line of storms developing from
central New York, down through Pennsylvania, and into Maryland
and Virginia. This line moves into western counties by 6pm, and
works its way east through the evening. CAMS also suggesting the
line breaking into two segments, with one area moving into the
northern half of New Jersey, and the other moving into Delmarva.
Given higher CAPE values in Delmarva, CAMS showing higher
reflectivities there.
Damaging wind gusts are expected with the stronger storms.
Given the high helicity values, cannot rule out isolated
tornadoes and large hail.
Given the stronger wind speeds aloft, storms should be moving
relatively quickly. This would limit the threat for flash
flooding, unless there are training of cells. PWATs will be in
excess of 2 inches. Torrential rain is expected, so this could
lead to localized flash flooding. Will note that 1 hour FFG
values from RFC are generally 2.5 to 3 inches, and 3 hour FFG
values are 3.5 to 4.5 inches, thus chances for widespread flash
flooding are fairly low.
The line of storms should be east of the I-95 corridor by 10pm,
but storms may continue to pass through Delmarva and southern
New Jersey through midnight. Lingering showers and thunderstorms
may continue through the overnight, but otherwise, low clouds
and patchy fog will develop until winds turn west by Tuesday
morning.
A tight westerly pressure gradient develops between low
pressure over eastern Canada and high pressure building over the
Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, and Midwest. Winds will increase to
15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 25 mph during the day. Skies
partially clear out. As some shortwave energy associated with an
H5 trough passes north of the region Tuesday afternoon, there
is a chance for some showers and thunderstorms in northern New
Jersey, the Lehigh Valley, and southern Poconos.
Highs will be several degrees cooler on Tuesday, generally in
the upper 70s to low 80s. Surface dew points will drop into the
60s in the morning, and may even drop into the upper 50s by
afternoon due to mixing and those gusty winds.
&&
.SHORT TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
As high pressure slides closer and dry air continues to build
under northwesterly flow aloft, clouds will push out and give
way to mostly clear skies for Tuesday night. The gradient will
still remain tight and keep winds elevated overnight, so lows
will only dip into the low to mid 60s despite the drier air and
clear skies.
Surface high pressure slides to our south on Wednesday as brief
shortwave ridging passes through in more zonal flow through
Wednesday night. Dew points come down to the upper 50s/low 60s with
highs in the mid 80s (higher elevations may hold in the upper 70s),
so overall looking at a pretty nice day with some diurnal cumulus in
the afternoon. Wind will still remain a bit elevated as the gradient
relaxes through the day, but shouldn't be quite as windy as Tuesday.
Lows Wednesday night will fall to the low 60s. The downside to the
west-east flow is that the dry period looks to quickly give way to
an unsettled end to the week as an upper trough and surface low
slide by.
&&
.LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
A shortwave will dig into the Ohio Valley on Thursday with low
pressure downstream. Flow aloft will still remain more zonal, so
features should be quick to move through. At the surface, southerly
return flow will set up and increase dew points back into the 70s as
the column moistens. The first half of Thursday will be dry but
precip will move in from the west in the afternoon and evening.
Timing depends on the amplitude of the upper trough and how quickly
the surface low arrives, and there is still some discrepancy with
the GFS/ECMWF favoring a deeper trough with a flatter GEM solution.
Thinking that NBM PoPs are introducing precip too early so have
delayed the onset until primarily after 12z with the highest chances
later in the afternoon/evening which better matches recent trends of
the global guidance.
The unsettled pattern will continue through the weekend as another
upper trough swings through the Great Lakes. Most of Friday looks to
be dry with some flat shortwave ridging briefly taking hold ahead of
the trough. Another low pressure system will drag a cold front
through over the weekend, perhaps late day Saturday very early
Sunday, but forecast confidence is increasingly lower at this time,
so primarily held with continuity/NBM which maintains the 20-30%
chance of rain for the second half of Saturday into Sunday morning.
The ensembles then hold upper troughing in place across the
Northeast into early next week. Temperatures look to be near normal
through the weekend.
&&
.AVIATION /22Z MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
The following discussion is for KPHL, KPNE, KTTN, KABE, KRDG, KILG,
KMIV, KACY and surrounding areas.
Through 06Z...The main line of storms is just west of many of
our TAF sites. One bowing segment appears that it will get very
close to KPHL and KILG. Therefore have updated these TAFs with
G50kt during the most likely time. Cannot rule out large hail or
even a tornado. S winds 10 to 15 kt with 20 to 25 kt gusts.
Moderate confidence overall.
Rest of tonight (06Z through 12Z)...SHRA/TSRA taper off.
Restrictions in stratus and fog with MVFR/IFR CIGs/VSBYs. S
winds 5 to 10 kt. Moderate confidence.
Tuesday (12Z through 00Z)...VFR conditions by 15Z or so. SW
winds 5 to 10 kt become W-NW 10 to 15 kt with 20 to 25 kt gusts.
High confidence.
Outlook...
Wednesday...VFR. Westerly wind around 10 knots with gusts to 20
knots. Moderate confidence.
Thursday...Scattered showers may result in periods of sub-VFR
conditions. Southwesterly wind 10-15 knots. Low confidence.
Friday...Some lingering sub-VFR conditions with showers in the
morning, otherwise VFR expected. Northwesterly wind 5-10 knots. Low
confidence.
&&
.MARINE...
South winds 15 to 20 kt into this evening. There may be a few
gusts to 25 kt, but outside of convection, not expecting
widespread 25+ kt gusts. Seas will be 3 to 4 feet.
Strong to severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and possible
waterspouts will affect the waters late this afternoon through
tonight. Storms should taper off after midnight. S winds 10 to
15 kt. Seas 3 to 4 feet. VSBY restrictions in fog possible late.
Tuesday will feature gusty west winds. A Small Craft Advisory
may be needed for 25 kt gusts. Seas will average 3 to 4 feet.
Outlook...
Wednesday...Small Craft Advisory conditions possible. Westerly
wind 15-20 knots with gusts to 20-25 knots in the morning
relaxing in the afternoon to 10-15 knots. Seas 3-5 feet
subsiding to 2-4 feet.
Thursday...No marine headlines expected. Southerly wind 10-15 knots
with gusts to 20 knots. Seas 2-3 feet.
Friday...No marine headlines expected. Southerly wind around 10
knots. Seas 2-3 feet.
Rip currents...
For the rest of today, there is a MODERATE risk for the
development of dangerous rip currents for the New Jersey and
Delaware beaches.
By Tuesday, winds will shift to offshore, so should see
gradually improving conditions, but due to the elevated surf may
see one more day of MODERATE conditions at NJ, while DE is
currently forecast to be LOW.
&&
.PHI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PA...None.
NJ...None.
DE...None.
MD...None.
MARINE...None.
&&
SYNOPSIS...Brudy
NEAR TERM...Johnson/MPS
SHORT TERM...Brudy/Deal
LONG TERM...Brudy/Deal
AVIATION...Brudy/Dodd/Johnson/MPS
MARINE...Brudy/Dodd/MPS