textproduct: NWS Wilmington

WHAT HAS CHANGED

Small Craft Advisory and Gale Warning have both been cancelled. Freeze Watch in effect for most of the forecast area late Saturday night into Sunday morning.

Aviation discussion updated for the 12Z TAFs.

KEY MESSAGES

- 1) Temperatures will sink below seasonal norms for the next several days. Freeze Watch in effect for most of the area late Saturday night into Sunday morning.

DISCUSSION

KEY MESSAGE 1...Temperatures will sink below seasonal norms for the next several days. Freeze Watch in effect for most of the area late Saturday night into Sunday morning.

Latest surface analysis shows a cold front well offshore of the Carolinas, with chilly high pressure well to the northwest. Cooler and drier air has been seeping into the area over the last few hours. Highs only get into the lower 60s this afternoon, some 12-15 degrees cooler than yesterday. Even colder tonight, with lows in the mid 30s inland, lower 40s at the coast. Can't rule out some isolated frost tonight in sheltered areas and rooftops. Despite that, it appears to be a tad too warm and breezy for a Frost Advisory tonight.

Temperatures continue to trend colder, with highs not even leaving the 50s this weekend. Freeze Watch from late Saturday night through Sunday morning for the majority of northeast SC and southeast NC, sans the immediate coastline and all of New Hanover County. Lows Saturday night dip down into the lower 30s inland, mid 30s at the coast.

Going into early next week, temperatures rebound slightly by a degree or two Monday and Tuesday. More considerable air mass modification kicks off Wednesday onward, with highs reaching the 70s again by about Thursday. Frost is possible at night in the earlier half of the week. Forecast continues to look quite dry.

AVIATION /12Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/

VFR through the 12Z TAF period. NW gusts up to 20 kts by late morning or Friday afternoon. Gusts weaken by sunset with mid- level clouds developing. Winds veer slightly towards the NNW late in the period.

Extended Outlook... VFR through Tuesday.

MARINE

Through Tuesday...Small Craft Advisory for the coastal waters from Surf City, NC to South Santee River, SC out 20 nm has been cancelled. In addition, the Gale Warning for the offshore waters from Surf City, NC to Little River Inlet, SC from 20-60 nm has been cancelled.

Winds now out of the NW, with the cold front now well offshore. Already starting to see an improvement to a moderate to fresh breeze, remaining that way through at least Saturday evening. Seas will also improve to 1-3 ft over the coastal waters by this afternoon, 3-5 ft over the offshore waters out 60 nm. Continued veering to the NNW expected Sunday, even to the NNE by Monday. Winds improve slightly towards a gentle to moderate breeze by that point. Continued veering to the NE kicks in by Tuesday, and gradient winds increase back up to a fresh breeze again. Seas increase modestly along the coastal waters to 2-4 ft.

ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

NC...Freeze Watch from late Saturday night through Sunday morning for NCZ087-096-099-105-109. SC...Freeze Watch from late Saturday night through Sunday morning for SCZ017-023-024-032-033-039-055-058-059. MARINE...None.