817
FXUS62 KMHX 161927
AFDMHX
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC
327 PM EDT Fri Oct 16 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Nor`easter expected to develop of of the NC coast this weekend.
Confidence is increasing regarding track and intensity as well
as minor to moderate coastal impacts with vulnerable areas
seeing the potential for more significant impacts. Storm Watches
now in effect for outer marine zones.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Cold front moves through early Saturday, with a low forming
and bringing a potential nor`easter near the coast through the
weekend and into next week.
2) Drastically cooler behind the front and low for Sunday,
along with continued breezy northeasterly winds.
Marine: Gale Warnings in effect with Storm Watches for outer
marine zones. Prolonged period of strong winds and high seas as
nor`easter lingers offshore for several days.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...
Forecast is beginning to come into much greater certainty with
this run of the forecast models, especially in regards to a cold
front moving through eastern NC on Saturday and then continuing
offshore. There is now HIGH confidence that a nor`easter will
form offshore and bring impacts to eastern NC in the form of
strong winds, high waves, and coastal flooding as well as
extremely dangerous marine conditions through the weekend.
Uncertainty remains on the back end of the forecast. Exactly how
long it lingers offshore and its eventual route upon exit still
have low confidence at this time. What we do know is that the
alternate scenario that excluded the formation of the low is now
gone and as a result the expected values for winds and seas has
increased.
As far as the cold front is concerned that will be the catalyst
for the eventual system, expect winds to shift to northeasterly
early Saturday morning brining rain chances to the area for much
of the day on Saturday. While amounts are expected to be
extreme, a widespread half of an inch to an inch of rain
throughout the day is likely.
Winds will pick up throughout the day with 25-30 mph gusts
common. Values will increase from west to east with areas near
the coast experiencing much higher values. A wind advisory in
effect for Western Carteret, Mainland Dare and Mainland Hyde
Counties from 18z Saturday through 00z Tuesday. For the Core and
Outer Banks as well as Downeast Carteret County, a high wind
watch is in effect from 00z Sunday through 6z on Monday.
2-4 foot above ground level coastal flooding will be possible
with minor to moderate impacts throughout the Outer Banks, Core
Banks and Downeast Carteret County. Impacts are expected to both
sound and oceanside locales with potentially significant impacts
to vulnerable areas on the ocean side. A high surf advisory is
in effect for the Outer Banks with breaking waves of generally
8-12 feet expected in the surf zone. A moderate to high risk of
rip currents is also expected through much of the week.
KEY MESSAGE 2...
After record breaking heat the last several days, temperatures
are expected to cool significantly. Maximum temperatures through
the period are expected to remain in the 60-70 degree range with
cooler values inland and warmer temperatures near the coast.
Overnight lows will range from the low 40s inland just after the
frontal passage to the low 50s by the end of the week with
coastal locations in the upper 40s to low 50s early in the
forecast period to low 50s to low 60s by the end of next week.
Winds will remain breezy, particularly in the afternoons
depending upon the eventual track of the offshore nor`easter.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Forecast confidence is high over the next 24 hours. A cold front
will move through the area brining a shift to north or NNWly
winds to all TAFs sites overnight Friday night into Saturday
morning. Expect conditions to remain VFR initially but then
begin to dive through MVFR into IFR levels as ceilings lower
with the approaching cold front. After sunrise on Saturday
expect rain to begin from northwest to southeast and winds to
begin gusting to 20-25 kts at all TAF sites with some stronger
gusts expected at KMRH closer to the coast.
Outlook (Sat night through Mon): Clearing skies Sat night but
winds and wind gusts will remain elevated as nor`easter lingers
offshore. Confidence in the eventual route of the nor`easter
remains uncertain at this time and this will likely have some
influence on the aviation forecast through much of next week.
More details will become available as confidence increases.
&&
.MARINE...
Latest obs show winds beginning to pick up offshore with
sustained values of 10-15 kts gusting 15-20 kts.
Latest obs show continuing W/SW winds 5-10 knots with seas
mainly 2-3 ft representing the last pleasant boating conditions
for quite some time as a cold front is expected to move through
the area on Saturday with a low pressure system forming into a
potential nor`easter which will linger offshore well into next
week.
Outlook (Sat through Tues): The aforementioned cold front will
bring northerly to NNWerly winds to all of the waters by 12z
Saturday. Winds will pick up significantly by saturday afternoon
as nor`ester begins the early stages of its genesis over the
Gulf Stream. Gale Warnings are now in effect for all waters
from Saturday afternoon and will linger into the middle of next
week. In addition a Storm Watch is now in effect for the central
and southern 20-60 nm Marine Zones from 00z Sunday through 06z
on Monday. During this time seas are expected to be anywhere
from 8-12 ft in the 0-20 nm zones upwards of 20-25 feet in the
outer waters of the 60 nm zones. Wave periods will peak around
13-15 s Sunday and Monday. For now the duration of the event
remains extremely uncertain with the possibility of dangerous
marine conditions possibly continuing through the entirety of
next week.
&&
.CLIMATE...
Record High temps for 10/16 (Friday)
LOCATION TEMP/YEAR
New Bern 86/1975 (KEWN ASOS)
Cape Hatteras 83/1919 (KHSE ASOS)
Greenville 90/1968 (COOP - Not KPGV AWOS)
Morehead City 84/1917 (COOP - Not KMRH ASOS)
Kinston 86/2008 (COOP - Not KISO AWOS)
Jacksonville 88/1975 (NCA ASOS)
&&
.MHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...Wind Advisory from 2 PM Saturday to 8 PM EDT Monday for NCZ047-
081-195.
Coastal Flood Advisory from 8 PM Saturday to 5 PM EDT Monday
for NCZ094-194.
Coastal Flood Advisory from 6 AM Sunday to 11 AM EDT Monday
for NCZ195-199.
Coastal Flood Advisory from 5 PM Saturday to 8 PM EDT Monday
for NCZ196.
High Wind Watch from Saturday evening through late Sunday
night for NCZ196-203>205.
High Surf Advisory from midnight Saturday night to 8 PM EDT
Monday for NCZ196-204.
High Surf Advisory from 2 PM Saturday to 8 AM EDT Tuesday for
NCZ203-205.
Coastal Flood Advisory from 5 PM Saturday to 8 AM EDT Tuesday
for NCZ203.
Coastal Flood Watch from Saturday afternoon through Tuesday
morning for NCZ204-205.
MARINE...Gale Warning from 1 PM Saturday to 6 AM EDT Wednesday for
AMZ131-135-230-231.
Gale Warning from 3 PM Saturday to 3 AM EDT Tuesday for AMZ136-
137.
Gale Warning from noon Saturday to 6 AM EDT Wednesday for
AMZ150.
Gale Warning from 1 PM Saturday to 9 AM EDT Tuesday for AMZ152-
154.
Gale Warning from 2 PM Saturday to 2 AM EDT Tuesday for AMZ156-
158.
Gale Warning from noon Saturday to 1 AM EDT Wednesday for
AMZ180.
Gale Warning from 1 PM to 8 PM EDT Saturday for AMZ182-184.
Storm Watch from Saturday evening through Sunday evening for
AMZ182-184.
Gale Warning from 2 PM to 8 PM EDT Saturday for AMZ186-188.
Storm Watch from Saturday evening through late Sunday night
for AMZ186-188.
&&
$$
DISCUSSION...RTE
AVIATION...RTE
MARINE...RTE
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