Damaging Winds in Pennsylvania, June 14, 2024

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
324 PM EDT Fri Jun 14 2024

.SYNOPSIS...
A cold front crosses our area late this afternoon into tonight.
High pressure begins to build in later tonight and then it remains
in place over the region through the weekend. A warm front lifts
through Monday, but surface high pressure looks to control our
weather through at least the middle of next week.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/...
Some strong to severe thunderstorms possible through this evening
especially from about the I-95 corridor to the north and west.

As a closed low centered near Hudson Bay Canada gradually shifts
eastward through tonight, a trailing cold front will cross our area
through this evening. A pre-frontal trough however is sliding
eastward across our region this afternoon and a band of clouds and
some showers have accompanied it. These showers have recently
dissipated as they approached I-95. A shortwave on the south side of
the main upper-level trough is a stronger one and this is sliding
across western and central Pennsylvania as of this writing. This
feature will continue eastward through this evening. An area of
stronger convection has been tied with this and much of the high-
resolution guidance is focusing additional convective development
with it as it continues to track to the east. The more organized
activity with this may move across northeast Pennsylvania and
northern New Jersey, although some southeastward development is
possible into some higher instability. Some additional convection
should also develop farther southwest along the tail end of the
shortwave and the incoming cold front. Areas of cloud cover may
temper the overall instability especially north and west, however a
mesoanalysis reveals MLCAPE of 500-1000 J/kg across the area. The
stronger flow aloft is lagging behind the cold front, however enough
deep-layer shear (around 30 knots) is forecast across eastern
Pennsylvania into New Jersey (less farther south).

Due to a very warm and well mixed boundary layer this afternoon
especially farther south and east, the model forecast soundings
continue to show an inverted-V profile in the lower levels. This
increases the downdraft instability (DCAPE). Given the ongoing
setup, the severe thunderstorm risk still remains however it should
be isolated to scattered. Convection should congeal into a few
clusters or some line segments, and stronger cores may produce
locally damaging wind gusts as the heavy rain initially falls into
the drier layer within the boundary layer. The freezing levels still
look on the higher side, however some hail cannot be ruled out with
some stronger updrafts. The precipitable water values are forecast
to be around 1.5 inches ahead of the cold front, and therefore high
rainfall rates should occur with the strongest convection for a
time. The flash flooding risk however looks to be low overall as
storms should be on the move, however there is a non-zero risk
particularly for the more urban areas.

The showers and thunderstorms will be shifting offshore or weakening
later this evening with any severe thunderstorm risk ending. The
main shortwave within the southern extent of the trough slides
across our area later this evening and this may keep some showers or
thunder going into the overnight especially across the coastal plain
prior to the cold front moving offshore. The drier air looks to lag
a bit, however it is expected to advect southeastward by daybreak
resulting in a clearing sky. Overnight low temperatures are forecast
to be in the 60s, with even some mid/upper 50s across the northern
areas.

As we go through Saturday, a very nice start to the weekend is
expected as some cyclonic flow aloft is in place as the trough axis
shifts to our east. Surface high pressure will be building down from
the northwest, however a tighter pressure gradient will be in place
and therefore a northerly breeze is expected. Dew points will be on
the decrease and this combined with some cooler temperatures will
result in a refreshing feel to the air.

&&

.SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
High pressure will dominate the short term forecast resulting in dry
conditions throughout the back half of the weekend.

Nighttime lows Saturday night are forecast to dip into the mid 50s
to right around 60. There will be plenty of sunshine to go around on
Sunday. Those who do not enjoy the heat will want to try and get
outside as temperatures will be marginally cooler in the low- mid
80s across most of the region. Upper 70s are expected near the shore
and at higher elevations.

A sea-breeze will likely develop on Sunday given the weak synoptic
flow in the forecast. This sea-breeze could penetrate well in-land
by the late afternoon into evening hours. Lows are forecast for the
upper 50s to low 60s Sunday Night.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Summary...Few changes to the long term. Hot but mainly dry forecast.

The synoptic pattern and evolution is nearly certain for the long
term. An upper-level ridge over the eastern CONUS Monday will build
to the north with time. By the Wednesday time frame, the strong
ridge will look to be centered directly over the northeastern CONUS
and will likely stay in place for quite a bit. The ensembles suggest
it is not until around the time frame of Friday that the ridge and
its associated axis will begin to break down a bit.

Overall, heights will only build over the region with time Monday
onwards. We could see heights of 594-600 dam over us for Wednesday.
At the surface level, high pressure centered offshore Monday will
move eastward with time as a warm front lifts over the region. Even
still, surface high pressure looks to largely control the region
through the duration of the term. Though some rounds of shortwave
energy may pester the region for much of the week, any precipitation
development should be largely suppressed given the pattern.

We are mainly looking at a dry forecast into Thursday night with
temperatures potentially getting warming each day. High temperatures
may touch the low 90s for Monday, but widespread highs in the 90s
should be anticipated at this point for Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday, and Friday. It is still a little too early to really
discuss any potential for heat headlines at this point, but the
potential will only grow with time as the week progresses.

&&

.AVIATION /20Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
The following discussion is for KPHL, KPNE, KTTN, KABE, KRDG, KILG,
KMIV, KACY and surrounding areas.

Rest of this afternoon...VFR, however areas of sub-VFR conditions
late as showers and thunderstorms arrive especially at KRDG and
KABE. South to southwest winds mostly 5-10 knots, becoming west KRDG
and KABE. Low confidence with the timing details.

Tonight...Areas of sub-VFR conditions through at least this evening,
especially visibilities, as some showers and thunderstorms move
through with a cold front. Gusty northwesterly winds may occur for a
time with stronger thunderstorms. Some low clouds may develop
especially south and east of KPHL later this evening into the
overnight before clearing takes place. Winds become northwest to
north around 5 knots. Low confidence.

Saturday...VFR. Northerly winds 10-15 knots with some gusts up to 20
knots, diminishing some later in the afternoon. Moderate
confidence.

Outlook...

Saturday night through Wednesday...VFR with no significant weather.

&&

.MARINE...
Through Saturday, the conditions are anticipated to remain below
Small Craft Advisory criteria. Southerly winds will turn northerly
by later tonight in the wake of a cold front and continue Saturday.
Some showers and thunderstorms move through this evening and
a few storms could produce locally gusty winds.

Outlook...

Saturday night through Wednesday...No marine headlines expected. A
few gusts around 20 kts possible on Monday. Fair weather.

Rip Currents...

Today, southerly winds 10 to 20 mph. The flow will be a bit
more onshore for most of New Jersey as opposed to Delaware.
Additionally, guidance shows a 2 ft 9-10 second longer period
swell from the SE to SSE developing by the afternoon. As a
result, there is a MODERATE risk for the development of
dangerous rip currents for New Jersey beaches where the
coastline is more perpendicular or oblique to the longer period
swell. LOW risk for the development of dangerous rip currents
for the Delaware beaches. Breaking waves will be around 2 to 3
feet.

Winds turn offshore for Saturday, with a LOW risk for the
development of dangerous rip currents everywhere.

For specific beach forecasts, visit weather.gov/beach/phi

&&

.PHI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PA...None.
NJ...None.
DE...None.
MD...None.
MARINE...None.

&&

SYNOPSIS...Wunderlin
NEAR TERM...Gorse
SHORT TERM...AKL/Wunderlin
LONG TERM...AKL/Wunderlin
AVIATION...AKL/Gorse
MARINE...AKL/Gorse

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
339 PM EDT Fri Jun 14 2024

NJZ001-007-PAZ054-055-060>062-142145-
Sussex-Warren-Carbon-Monroe-Berks-Lehigh-Northampton-
Including the cities of Newton, Washington, Jim Thorpe,
Stroudsburg, Reading, Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton
339 PM EDT Fri Jun 14 2024

...STRONG SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON...

An area of strong showers and thunderstorms is moving from west to
east into the Lehigh Valley and Southern Poconos. Some of the
heavier showers or thunderstorms will be capable of producing
locally gusty winds to around 40 mph and small hail. Local
downpours can also occur resulting in some brief minor flooding.

AKL