756 FXUS62 KRAH 181753 AFDRAHArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Raleigh NC 150 PM EDT Thu Sep 18 2025
.SYNOPSIS... High pressure will extend over the area into the weekend with a warming trend. A weak back-door cold front will slide south through the area late Saturday.
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.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 150 PM Thursday...
What is left of the low pressure system on Wed is simply a broad trough off the NC/VA coast at the moment. Satellite imagery reveals lingering low stratus across the northern Coastal Plain and far eastern NC at the moment. Lingering low-level moisture should favor the development of afternoon cumulus across the Piedmont as well. This evening, with general high pressure overhead, should see the daytime cumulus disperse after sunset, though cannot rule out some patchy clouds in the south with a mid-level trough over GA/SC. After highs today near 80 in the NE and upper 80s in the SW, low temperatures should dip into the low to mid 60s, except some isolated upper 50s in the Coastal Plain. Patchy ground fog will be possible with some pooling of the low/mid 60s dewpoints, mainly along and east of I-95. The HREF/RAP/HRRR are indicating this potential, likely from crossover temperatures being met or exceeded.
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.SHORT TERM /FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT/... As of 150 PM Thursday...
Patchy morning ground fog along the Coastal Plain and eastern Sandhills should disperse shortly after sunrise. A mainly sunny day should abound with high pressure over the region. Aloft, models show a weak mid-level shortwave over upstate SC. While the impact from this will be little, surprisingly a few of the CAMs are suggesting some very isolated pockets of showers developing over the mountains of NC and parts of northeastern SC and even a few perhaps near the southern Piedmont. Weak instability could fuel these isolated showers. Overall, I think we will be dry given the subsidence over the area. Highs will be rather warm to close out the work week as the airmass warms further. Highs will warm some 5-10 degrees above normal in the upper 80s to around 90. Patchy ground fog will be possible again Sat morning with lingering low-level moisture, especially over the Coastal Plain and eastern Sandhills.
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.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 150 PM Thursday...
* Above Normal Temperatures Will Persist
* Rain Chances Return Next Week, Though Uncertainty Exists
Saturday: A weak back-door cold front will slide south through the area late in the day. Ahead of the front, temperatures will rise well into the 80s, with some locations potentially reaching 90 degree. Weak instability and little to moisture advection into the area should limit rain chances to isolated showers as the front passes, but most locations will remain dry. Lows Saturday night 60 to 65, with post-frontal NELY low-level flow favoring areas of stratus/clouds early Sunday morning.
Sunday through Early Week: Surface high pressure extending southward along much of the Eastern Seaboard will bring slightly cooler, yet still above normal temperatures. Highs 80-85F, with overnight lows in the lower to mid 60s.
Mid to Late Week: An upper trough entering the Pacific Northwest will dig and close off into a deep low over the US Plains early next week and then linger over the central US and mid MS Valley through mid to late week. Southerly moisture transport ahead of this system should eventually increase moisture transport into the Carolinas, brining a return of rain chances. However, growing model spread in the system`s eastward progression lowers confidence in the exact timing and coverage of rainfall across central NC.
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.AVIATION /18Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 150 PM Thursday...
There is high confidence in VFR to start the TAF period. Lingering low-level moisture will favor the development of some afternoon to early evening stratocumulus, primarily across the eastern terminals of RDU, FAY, and RWI. These clouds will disperse after sunset. With high pressure in control, winds will turn calm. Dewpoints hovering in the low to middle 60s are forecast to pool over the Coastal Plain tonight and early Fri, favoring the development of patchy ground fog near FAY/RWI. Confidence is not particularly high but crossover temperatures should be met or exceeded at FAY/RWI, favoring the introduction of some restrictions. VFR should prevail the remainder of Fri, with light and variable winds under high pressure.
Outlook: Patchy ground fog is again possible Sat morning. A backdoor cold front moving through Sat night could favor sub-VFR CIG/VIS restrictions early Sun.
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.RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None.
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SYNOPSIS...RAH NEAR TERM...Kren SHORT TERM...Kren LONG TERM...CBL AVIATION...Kren
NWS RAH Office Area Forecast Discussion