Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Sterling, VA

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055
FXUS61 KLWX 070225
AFDLWX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
925 PM EST Thu Mar 6 2025

.SYNOPSIS...
Gusty winds will continue through tonight between low pressure
departing to the north and high pressure building in from the
west. High pressure will pivot to the south Friday, then a weak
area of low pressure will cross the region Friday night into
Saturday. Another area of low pressure will pass to the south
Sunday, then high pressure will return through the first half of
next week.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM FRIDAY MORNING/...
Winds have been showing a gradual decrease since sunset with
nocturnal cooling although wind fields aloft have been
strengthening (40-50kt in the boundary layer per 00Z IAD
sounding). Therefore, there could be sporadic punches of higher
winds, especially in any higher elevations. Canceled lower
elevation portions of the Wind Advisory earlier, with some
additional trimming possible before the midnight expiration.
Cold advection slows the second half of the night, which should
weaken low level lapse rates and cause winds to diminish
further. One exception may be the highest peaks as 850 mb winds
remain 40-50 kt through daybreak.

Cold advection stratocumulus/wave clouds have been retreating as
well, and expect this trend to continue overnight. High clouds
may start approaching from the southwest toward dawn.

Low temperatures will be in the upper 20s to lower 30s with 20s
in the mountains. Wind chill values will be about 5-10 degrees
lower.

&&

.SHORT TERM /6 AM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/...
High pressure will briefly pass to the south Friday. High and
mid level clouds will increase Friday into Friday night as a
weak wave of low pressure approaches from the west. The highest
precipitation chances with this low will be along the MD/PA line
and near/west of the Appalachians.

Friday and Saturday both look breezy during the daylight hours
when mixing increases, though not as windy as today (Thursday).

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
As one low pressure system moves across New England and another
moves across the Carolinas and offshore the East Coast Sunday
night and Monday, high pressure will gradually build into the region
from the southwest. Dry conditions are expected through this
period with moderating temperatures. Highs Monday could reach
the lower 70s.

High pressure will continue to dominate Tuesday through Wednesday as
well. Dry conditions and high temperatures reaching the middle 70s
each day will be the story. A cold front could sag across the
eastern Great Lakes Tuesday night through Wednesday, but is
expected to stay well north of our region at this time.

&&

.AVIATION /02Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
Overall winds have been trending downward this evening, but some
rogue gusts of 30-40 kt could occur through midnight as wind
fields remain strong aloft. Winds will gradually subside
overnight, but bouts of breezy conditions are expected during
the daytime hours Friday and Saturday out of the NW (though
brief/lighter SW flow is anticipated Friday night). Remaining
stratocumulus ceilings should scatter out overnight.

VFR conditions are expected through the first half of the
weekend, though some spotty light rain is possible late Friday
night into Saturday.

VFR conditions Sunday night through Monday night. Winds west less
than 5 knots Sunday night. Winds west to northwest 5 to 10 knots
Monday and Monday night.

&&

.MARINE...
While winds have been trending downward this evening, some
occasional stronger gusts to gale force remain possible through
the night as air temperatures cool below water temperatures and
there are strong winds aloft that could mix down. Afterward,
solid SCA conditions will likely linger through Friday in NW
flow. Winds turn SW Friday night, then back to the NW Saturday
with additional gusts of 15-25 knots possible.

No marine hazards Sunday night through Monday night. Winds
light and westerly less than 5 knots Sunday night. Winds west to
northwest 10 knots Monday and Monday night.

&&

.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...None.
MD...Gale Warning until 6 AM EST Friday for MDZ008.
     Wind Advisory until 1 AM EST Friday for MDZ001-501.
     Wind Advisory until midnight EST tonight for MDZ003>006-502-
     503-505.
VA...Wind Advisory until 1 AM EST Friday for VAZ503.
     Wind Advisory until midnight EST tonight for VAZ027-028-030-
     031-504-505-507-508.
WV...Wind Advisory until 1 AM EST Friday for WVZ501-503-505.
     Wind Advisory until midnight EST tonight for WVZ050>053-055-
     502-504-506.
MARINE...Gale Warning until 6 AM EST Friday for ANZ530>534-537-539>541-
     543.
     Gale Warning until midnight EST tonight for ANZ535-536-538-542.

&&

$$

SYNOPSIS...DHOF
NEAR TERM...ADS
SHORT TERM...DHOF
LONG TERM...KLW
AVIATION...ADS/KLW/DHOF
MARINE...ADS/KLW/DHOF