


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Sterling, VA
Issued by NWS Sterling, VA
004 FXUS61 KLWX 241300 AFDLWX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 900 AM EDT Sun Aug 24 2025 .SYNOPSIS... Shower and thunderstorm chances continue as the cold front crosses the area this afternoon and evening. A strong dome of Canadian high pressure builds thereafter with near to below normal temperatures for much of next week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Early morning shower activity between I-81 and US-15 along a subtle convergence axis around 850 hPa was showing signs of weakening. Differential heating and perhaps a slight uptick in near surface moisture left behind by these showers may serve as a focus for redevelopment later today as a synoptic trough and front move in from the west. An upper low over southern Ontario will dig across the Great Lakes and northern Mid-Atlantic pushing a strong cold front through the area. Showers and thunderstorms are expected today into tonight before the cold front moves eastward. SPC maintains general thunder for the local FA today with no categorical outlook (MRGL to the north). Cannot rule out a SVR storm or two, but there is a disconnect between moisture, instability, and forcing. Scattered storms should remain progressive limiting any flood threat, although a few mergers are possible with locally higher totals from the north-central Shenandoah Valley into the central Virginia piedmont. WPC MRGL ERO is along/north of the Mason-Dixon at this time. Highs today will still be a tick or two below climo norms (low to mid 80s for most with 70s in the mtns). Tonight, lows will drop into the mid 60s ahead of the front with 50s behind the front in the Alleghenies. && .SHORT TERM /MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/... The cold front will exit the area early Monday after 06Z with showers ending shortly thereafter. Expect a slight bump in winds Monday as the front exits east and high pressure builds from the Ohio River Valley. Gusts of 15 to 20 mph are possible out of the north and northwest. Temps Monday will be below average with 70s to near 80 for most. Areas AOA 3.5kft in the Alleghenies likely don`t make it out of the 50s Monday - a sign of what is to come later this week with a true Autumnal airmass setting in. Lows Monday night will be in the 50s for most (60s along the water and in the city centers). High elevation valleys and bogs likely see the first frost of the season. Broad H5 troughing will remain Tuesday across the eastern CONUS with an area of Canadian sfc high pressure centered west of the area. This will result in highs only making it into the 70s to low 80s for most (upper 50s to 60s in mtns). Lows Tuesday night will be the coldest since spring for most locales with temps dropping into the 50s areawide (near 60 along waters and inner cities). Another night of patchy frost is possible in the favored locales. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... At the beginning of the period, the broad H5 trough originating from the Canadian Maritimes moves off the eastern US seaboard with height rises on Wednesday, then steady heights before another shortwave approaches from the northwest Friday. Generally, there will be a troughy upper air pattern during the entire long term period. But at the surface, high pressure moves in from the Ohio Valley, and is directly overhead on Thursday morning. That high moves off the Mid-Atlantic on Thursday, but is replaced by circulation around a Canadian high pressure trekking across Quebec Friday into Saturday. H85 temps will generally be around 8-10C, but what will vary are the sfc dwpts with chilly mornings both on Wed and Thu. Dry air at the surface on these days may lead to morning temps in the upper 30s at the higher elevations of the Potomac Highlands, and generally 5-10 degrees below normal across the CWA. Winds may stay up on Tuesday night, inhibiting frost in the higher elevations then, but with the high directly overhead on Thursday morning, frost is possible. 24/01Z NBM is showing POPs AOB 10 percent through the long term period. Other than the potential for frost in the higher elevations Thursday morning, no impactful weather is expected. && .AVIATION /12Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... Prevailing VFR conditions are expected today, although temporary drops to sub-VFR may be possible this afternoon as scattered thunderstorms move through. Have maintained PROB30 groups to MRB, CHO, and IAD where confidence is greatest (may still need to be expanded eastward with future forecast updates). Winds will be out of the south today. Winds turn of the west to northwest on Monday behind a cold front while conditions remain VFR. VFR conditions are expected for much of the week (Tuesday through Friday) as Canadian high pressure settles over the region. && .MARINE... A few gusts to 15 kts in southerly flow remain possible over the wider waters of the bay. Otherwise, sub-SCA level winds are expected today outside of marginal southerly channeling in the early evening. SMWs may potentially be needed as thunderstorms pass over the waters this afternoon/evening. Come Monday night, winds may approach SCA levels as winds turn northwest behind a cold front. No marine hazards Tuesday through Thursday with winds northwest 10 to 15 knots. && .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... Water levels will be slow to recede until a cold front clears the area Monday and winds shift to the NW. Widespread minor coastal flooding will continue during this time. && .LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... DC...None. MD...Coastal Flood Advisory until 6 AM EDT Monday for MDZ011-014- 018-508. Coastal Flood Advisory until 7 PM EDT this evening for MDZ016. VA...Coastal Flood Advisory until 7 PM EDT this evening for VAZ054- 057. WV...None. MARINE...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...DHOF/CPB NEAR TERM...DHOF/CPB SHORT TERM...DHOF/CPB LONG TERM...Lee AVIATION...DHOF/CPB MARINE...DHOF/CPB TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...LWX