textproduct: NWS Wilmington

WHAT HAS CHANGED

Gale Warning issued for NC marine zones.

Aviation discussion updated for the 12Z TAFs.

KEY MESSAGES

1) An Arctic cold front pushing through this morning will bring unseasonably cold weather this weekend.

DISCUSSION

KEY MESSAGE 1...An Arctic cold front pushing through this morning will bring unseasonably cold weather this weekend.

Arctic boundary pushing through this morning to bring a cold, blustery day today despite nearly full sunshine. The strongest wind gusts are expected in NC moreso than SC and may linger longest along the coast. Even as the gustiness wanes tonight as mixing becomes more shallow some fairly widespread advisory- worthy apparent temperatures of less than 15F will materialize across NC zones. Northernmost row of SC zones a slightly tougher call as areal coverage of said apparent T's may come into play...will let the day crew re- assess.

AVIATION /12Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/

Lead Arctic front now through the area with a secondary push slated for later this morning. Winds will increase as they remain out of the NW and become quite gusty. LLWS currently observed at ILM but with the aforementioned diurnal increase in surface wind criteria will no longer be met. All sites VFR through the period. Winds abate some after sunset especially inland.

Extended Forecast...Flight restrictions from shallow fog could develop late Mon night and again Tue night. Sea fog could also impact the coastal terminals Tuesday night and Wednesday.

MARINE

Through tonight...Post-frontal regime about to set up. NW winds to increase today handily necessitating SCA for SC waters. Tougher call over NC waters. Models showing a 925 swath of 35kt winds out of the NW, with higher values noted north of HSE. With SSTs only in the mid 40s, the bottom quartile of temps for the date, it's hard to say how much this momentum will transfer to the surface. Since the Gale Warning has already been hoisted however there seemed little value in lowering it in order to err on the side of caution.

Sunday through Wednesday Night...Improving conditions Sun as high pressure builds in. Beyond early Sun, no significant marine weather expected despite another cold front moving through Wed night. However, there is a slight chance for sea fog to develop starting Tuesday night as warmer and moister air moves in over the chilly nearshore waters.

ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

NC...Cold Weather Advisory from 11 PM this evening to 9 AM EST Sunday for NCZ087-096-099-105>110. SC...None. MARINE...Gale Warning until midnight EST tonight for AMZ250-252. Small Craft Advisory until 7 AM EST Sunday for AMZ254-256.