065 FXUS61 KCTP 220108 AFDCTPArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service State College PA 908 PM EDT Sun Sep 21 2025
.SYNOPSIS... * Above average temperatures for the last week of September to being astronomical Fall * Periods of much needed rainfall expected this week across central PA
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.NEAR TERM /THROUGH MONDAY/... Low clouds showing very little signs of breaking up over the central mtns into the Susquehanna Valley this afternoon. The western edge of the stratus has mixed to bkn stratocu along the Allegheny Front with mostly sunny skies over Warren County.
Bulk of hires data keeps rain showers out of the NW mtns through 06Z with an increasing chance through early Monday morning. Otherwise, mostly cloudy tonight with lows in the 50s.
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.SHORT TERM /MONDAY NIGHT/... The greatest chances for rain/showers during the short term period will be into early Monday and again late Monday afternoon and evening (across the NW zones along a NEWD lifting warm frontal zone, SE edge of a band of 1.5+ PWATS and swrly LLJ axis. That portion of the state resides at the SE edge of the DY2 SPC MRGL threat for SVR TSRA.
High pressure and slightly lower PWATs to the east will keep any rain showers to a minimum east of I-99 and south of I-80.
High temps Monday will range from the mid 70s over the higher terrain of the north and west, to the upper 70s and around 80F elsewhere.
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.LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... Strong sfc high shifts to the Northeastern Seaboard early in the upcoming week. This will allow a +tilt upper level trough and llvl frontal boundary to move southeast from the Great Lakes bringing the best odds for rain particularly on Tuesday focused across the northwest 1/2 of central PA.
Uncertainty with regard to the timing, northward extent and amount of rain still permeates the last few days of the long term period with the results whittled down to the outcome/location of two key features.
First will be the development of a slow moving closed low during the middle of the week acrs the Central Plains and Mid Miss valley as a significant jet max/potent short wave dives SE across the Central and Northern Rockies. The timing of this feature`s trip across the Ohio Valley, Central Appalachians and Mid Atlantic Region should be mainly in the Wed through Fri night period. The second feature of concern is the timing and amplification of a northern stream upper shortwave within the potent and quasi-zonal jet core across southern Canada.
Yesterday`s model runs phased the timing of the northern and southern stream troughs better and caused the southern trough/closed low to be a few hundred NM further south. After a 12Z Sat - 00Z Sun pair of runs that became more unphased with this feature and allowed it to drift north into flat ridge over southern Ontario and SW Quebec, the timing of the northern stream trough appears to be more a kicker and once again suppresses the southern low a bit more south with faster movement across the Eastern U.S.
Based on this, the greatest probability for rain will reside in the late Wed through Friday evening period. Lingering, scattered showers appear to be the outcome for later Friday night and Saturday.
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.AVIATION /01Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... Mid evening update.
CIGS at times lower than fcst at 00Z, so some adjustments for that. Also some drizzle near UNV. Rather strong storms formed near Lake Erie a brief time ago, but should continue to weaken and stay north of BFD.
Earlier discussion below.
Not a lot of change to the 00Z TAF package. JST was clear for a brief time, but low CIGS back into that area. BFD still clear.
A southeast flow of air will continue to push moisture to the northwest overnight into early Monday. Expect CIGS to lower. Fog less likely, given that the dewpoints are not real high. LLWS borderline, will adjust as needed.
As winds shift a bit more the south and southeast on Monday, CIGS should come back up to VFR by late morning or early aft.
Best moisture and forcing for showers and storms to the west, thus slowed down the showers and storms some for late Monday. Used PROB30 as the earlier fcst had. Left mention out of the eastern sites.
Main chance for rain this week will be on Tuesday and again on Thursday. A mild week overall for the end of Sept.
Outlook...
Tue-Fri...Multiple rounds of SHRA and PM TSRA with sub-VFR conditions possible.
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.CLIMATE... Astronomical fall officially begins with the autumnal equinox on Monday, September 22, 2025 @ 2:19 p.m. EDT. The Autumn 2025 season will last 89 days, 20 hours, and 43 minutes. Daylight saving time will end just after Halloween with clocks falling back at 2 a.m. Sunday, November 2, 2025.
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.CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None.
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SYNOPSIS...Lambert/Steinbugl NEAR TERM...Lambert/Steinbugl SHORT TERM...Lambert/Steinbugl/Bowen LONG TERM...Lambert/Steinbugl AVIATION...Martin CLIMATE...Steinbugl
NWS CTP Office Area Forecast Discussion