236 FXUS62 KILM 131027 AFDILMArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wilmington NC 627 AM EDT Sat Sep 13 2025
.SYNOPSIS... High pressure will aid in quiet and dry weather this weekend with low rain chances returning next week.
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.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Dry weather again for today with the region under the influence of sfc high pressure, while low pressure and associated moisture stay well offshore. NE flow keeps temps slightly below normal, with highs in the lwr 80s under partly to mostly sunny skies.
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.SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/... WV imagery shows a well pronounced mid level trough in the east and a baroclinic zone well offshore. The main occurrence during the short term is that the trough weakly cuts off and surface low pressure develops on the offshore frontal boundary. This locks in the NE flow and keeps the surface high pressure wedge in place. Guidance is at odds regarding precip potential as this occurs. Blended guidance, and thus our forecast, has low end chance POPs spreading across the entire area on Monday. Given the offshore distance of the boundary would not be surprised to see these rain chances diminish in future forecasts. Temperatures will be very close to seasonable norms by both day and night.
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.LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... The upper level low from the short term will be slow to open up back into a wave and lift out, possibly taking until Wednesday to do so. Similar to the short term any guidance that suggests that this means rain chances locally seems rather unrealistic as the moisture should be far too offshore. Thereafter a weak sense of troughiness lingers and the surface pressure pattern becomes ill-defined. By midweek we lose the long standing NEerly breeze and may even see a small warmup. By the end of the period more mid level energy will be diving into the OH Valley and a cold front will approach but it will be too deprived of moisture to bring any rain chances.
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.AVIATION /10Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... VFR through the 12Z TAF period. 5-10 kt winds this morning will preclude fog formation, and the lack of low-level moisture will prevent low stratus from developing. Similar conditions today as yesterday with NE winds up to 10-15 kt and dry weather, with any stratocu clouds focused over eastern areas. Very low chance of low stratus Sunday morning...too low to warrant any mention in the TAFs at this point.
Extended Outlook...Predominantly VFR continues.
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.MARINE... Through Tonight...The SCA currently in effect over all coastal waters has been extended through midnight tonight, with 6 ft seas expected to continue over the outer portion of the marine zones, with gusts up to ~25 kt as well. This in response to a tightened pressure gradient with sfc high pressure inland and weak low pressure developing well offshore.
Sunday through Wednesday... An upper low overhead and an offshore frontal boundary will keep a moderately strong pressure gradient locally to start the period but conditions should be below advisory thresholds as the 6ft seas lie outside of the 20nm zones esp in SC waters. The upper low and offshore frontal boundary will be slow to change so breezy but sub- advisory conditions continue into the midweek period. Wind waves and swell energy will be aligned out of the NE for most of the period, with a a slight abatement of both towards its end.
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.TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... The full moon and elevated north to northeast winds will keep water levels higher than normal this weekend. Minor coastal flooding expected for the immediate coast of southeast NC and northeast SC with the afternoon high tide cycle today, and possibly again Sunday. Locations along the banks of the lower Cape Fear River from Wilmington southward can expect minor coastal flooding with the afternoon high tide cycles today and Sunday, and possibly again Monday.
- Rip Currents: Eight second easterly swell will increase in height today, creating a high risk of rip currents for the New Hanover county beaches just north of Cape Fear. This swell should not be quite as well-aligned to create problems at the Pender and Georgetown county beaches where a moderate risk of rip currents is forecast. Breaking wave heights in the surf zone could reach 4 feet between Wrightsville Beach and Fort Fisher.
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.ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NC...Beach Hazards Statement through this evening for NCZ106. Coastal Flood Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 3 PM EDT this afternoon for NCZ106-108-110. Coastal Flood Advisory from 1 PM to 5 PM EDT this afternoon for NCZ107. High Risk for Rip Currents through this evening for NCZ108. SC...Beach Hazards Statement through this evening for SCZ056. Coastal Flood Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 3 PM EDT this afternoon for SCZ054-056. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until midnight EDT tonight for AMZ250-252- 254-256.
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SYNOPSIS...ILM NEAR TERM...MAS SHORT TERM...MBB LONG TERM...MBB AVIATION...MAS MARINE...MAS/MBB TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
NWS ILM Office Area Forecast Discussion