000 FXUS62 KMLB 160853 AFDMLB Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Melbourne FL 453 AM EDT Tue Apr 16 2024 .DISCUSSION... Issued at 439 AM EDT Tue Apr 16 2024 ...Warming Temperatures This Week and Remaining Dry... Today-Tonight...Dry conditions will persist through tonight as a high pressure ridge axis remains over the region. Forecast soundings show an increase in upper level moisture through today, as well as a slight increase in low level moisture (PW values ranging from 0.7- 0.8") into this afternoon. Locally, mostly sunny skies are forecast, with some high level clouds streaming over the local area through the day. Much like the last several days, rain chances remain out of the forecast through tonight. Light and variable winds will become east to southeast by mid-morning and increase to 10-15 mph, with gusts up to 20 mph possible, especially along the coast into this afternoon. Winds will start to decrease after sunset, becoming light overnight. The warming trend continues today, with temperatures at or slightly above normal for this time of year. Afternoon highs will be in the low 80s east of I-95, and mid 80s west of I-95, with upper 80s possible in the far western interior. Overnight lows will be in the low 60s under clear to mostly clear skies. Wed-Sun...Mid-level ridge extending from the Bay of Campeche NE across the FL peninsula Wed will get flattened by southern stream shortwave energy. A period of NW flow aloft should occur late week as mid level trough develops over the SW Atlc. Fast zonal flow (west to east) should develop Sun-Mon as broad troughing develops over the eastern CONUS. In the low levels, the Atlc ridge axis slips southward across the area Wed and reaches south FL Thu where it will remain into the weekend. Some mid level energy will cross the area Fri in the NW flow aloft, but dearth of low level moisture argues against introducing any rain chances. The GFS continues to produce a little QPF late Sat and Sun aftns across EC FL which will be in a region of favorable low level convergence on the north side of the ridge axis combined with late sea breeze mergers. But have low confidence sufficient low level moisture will exist so will keep the weekend dry for now. The low level ridge axis should hold firm across south FL Thu thru the weekend preventing any frontal passages and will promote a south to southwest flow turning onshore near the coast each aftn. Across the interior, max temps will warm into the upper 80s/near 90 Wed, and low 90s Thu-Sun with a few mid 90s possible. Daily afternoon sea breezes will keep coastal communities a little cooler in the low 80s Wed warming to the upper 80s Fri-Sun due to a more delayed sea breeze onset. Mon...Mid level troughing developing over the eastern CONUS will help push a frontal boundary into the Deep South and could bring our next best chance for scattered showers but also storms. Current forecast has a weakening boundary oozing southward into central FL so have drawn 40 PoPs across the north and 20 PoPs across the south but timing uncertainties exist at this long range. While many will welcome some rain, it may also come with a risk of lightning strikes which could spark brush fires given the dry antecedent conditions. This will be an ongoing concern as we enter our peak fire season prior to the onset of the wet season. && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFs) Issued at 439 AM EDT Tue Apr 16 2024 VFR conditions continue through the TAF period. CIGs will be SCT100- 250 to SKC. Light and variable winds will become east to southeast at 10-15 KT by mid morning, with gusts up to 20 KT possible in the afternoon. Winds will then become light once again overnight. Some guidance was indicating patchy fog will be possible across the northern interior early this morning, but confidence is not high, so have left out any mention of fog in the TAF. && .MARINE... Issued at 439 AM EDT Tue Apr 16 2024 Today-Tonight... Favorable boating conditions through the period. East to southeast winds will increase to 10-15 KT by mid-morning with gusts of 20-25 KT possible through tonight. Seas 2-3ft will build up to 4ft in the far offshore waters late tonight. Rain chances remain out of the forecast through tonight. Wed-Sat...Favorable boating conditions with the Atlc ridge axis shifting back southward over the local Atlc waters Wed and reaching south FL Thu and remaining there into the weekend. Winds SE 10-15 knots Wed then S-SW 10 knots Thu-Sat, but turning onshore (SE) near the coast in an aftn sea breeze. Seas 3 ft Tue, building 4 ft well offshore Tue night- Wed night. Seas subside back 2-3 feet Thu-Sat as offshore flow develops. No rain/storms forecast. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 439 AM EDT Tue Apr 16 2024 High pressure will remain in control over east central Florida through Saturday, maintaining dry conditions and warming temperatures. Fire weather sensitive conditions will exist today as wind increase out of the east southeast 10-14 mph with gusts around 20 mph. Winds will decrease slightly Wednesday and Thursday and become more southerly as ridge axis slips south across the area and becomes stationary across south Florida late this week and weekend. Min RH values will reach at or below critical levels across the interior each afternoon, falling near 30% today north and west of Orlando and 30-35% across all the interior Wednesday through Saturday. Min RH values will hold between 40-50% near the east coast. Very Good dispersion is forecast this afternoon and again Wednesday afternoon. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DAB 82 60 83 64 / 0 0 0 0 MCO 86 64 87 65 / 0 0 0 0 MLB 81 64 81 64 / 0 0 0 0 VRB 82 63 83 62 / 0 0 0 0 LEE 87 63 88 65 / 0 0 0 0 SFB 86 62 88 64 / 0 0 0 0 ORL 86 64 87 66 / 0 0 0 0 FPR 82 60 83 61 / 0 0 0 0 && .MLB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...None. AM...None. && $$ SHORT TERM...Watson LONG TERM...Kelly AVIATION...Watson