Area Forecast Discussion
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503 FXUS62 KTAE 191528 AFDTAE AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL 1128 AM EDT Sun May 19 2013 .DISCUSSION...
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The 12 UTC regional surface analysis showed a ridge along the Gulf Coast, and a decaying, quasi-stationary front from southeast GA to MO. Vapor imagery and upper air data showed a ridge axis from the MS coast to WI, and a weak trough over western TN. There were already some clusters of thunderstorms over north GA (producing frequent lightning strikes) associated with these features, and the latest NWP guidance has these clusters (and/or additional developing cells) translating south, then eventually eastward later today along the aforementioned frontal boundary. Most of the statistical and dynamical NWP guidance keeps the bulk of the rain to our north and east, but some of the normally reliable Convection Allowing Model (CAM) runs (including our 11 UTC local WRF and the HRRR) manage to bring deep moist convection as far south and west as the Dothan and the Tallahassee area later this afternoon. Our updated PoP forecast has a 40-50% PoP around Tifton, Valdosta, and Albany, and a 20% PoP from Tallahassee to Dothan. Our local "Confidence Grids" program shows a 5% probability of severe storms (within 25 miles of point) in our GA zones, which is what the SPC outlook shows as well. The CAM guidance also shows a small chance of strong to severe storms in this region. Although the winds throughout the lower and mid troposphere are weak (which should limit the potential for significant storm organization/rotation), the lapse rates aloft are steep enough to support a marginally severe hail/damaging wind gust threat, in the form of "pulse" storms (i.e. cells that quickly grow and decay). Any showers/storms that develop elsewhere will be fighting poor thermodynamics, as there was a warm/dry layer at 850 mb based on the KTAE sounding from 12 UTC.
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&& .AVIATION...
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Prevailing VFR conditions are expected until late tonight, when another round of low cigs/fog is possible. Scattered SHRA/TSRA, some possibly strong with gusty winds and/or hail, are expected across south GA later this afternoon or early evening, and we may need to update the KABY and KVLD TAFs at 18 UTC once it becomes clearer as to how the storms currently in north GA are evolving. Where it rains may also impact Monday morning`s fog/low cloud forecast.
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&& .HYDROLOGY... Area rivers and streams will remain well below flood stage for the next several days with very little widespread rain in the forecast. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
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Tallahassee 89 64 90 66 / 20 20 20 10 Panama City 82 68 85 69 / 10 10 10 10 Dothan 89 66 92 66 / 20 10 10 10 Albany 89 66 91 66 / 50 20 20 20 Valdosta 91 64 92 65 / 40 30 30 20 Cross City 88 63 88 64 / 20 20 30 20 Apalachicola 81 66 84 68 / 10 10 10 10
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&& .TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
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AL...NONE. GA...NONE. FL...NONE. GM...NONE.
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&& $$ HYDROLOGY...Gould REST OF DISCUSSION...Fournier

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