Swell Matrix

Area Forecast Discussion

National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City Nc

802 pm EST Tue Dec 23 2025

Synopsis

A cold front crosses through ENC tonight with high pressure building through Christmas day. A warm front moves through late Friday with next chance for rain. An arctic cold front moves through late Sunday with a return to cold by early next week.

Near Term

Until 6 am Wednesday morning As of 1845 Tuesday, Minor adjustments to sensible wx grids to account for the sunset temp crash but no impacts to MinT.

Previous disco, as of 3 PM Tue, Cold front still set to move through, as winds are swrly acrs ENC with clearing skies from NW to SE. Behind the weak cold front CAA will be meager, and expect lows to remain in the mid to upper 40s as the boundary layer remains mixed and TD's relatively high. Could see some patchy to areas of fog develop, esp if winds become calm. Best chc would be acrs nrn tier where a bit of rain fell earlier today.

Short Term

6 am Wednesday morning through 6 pm Wednesday As of 3 PM Tue, High pressure will continue to build in from the southwest and northwest Christmas Eve. This will keep nnwrly flow at the surface while low level thicknesses remain above normal. It will actually be a warmer day than Tue due to downsloping flow and sunny skies, with highs overachieving into the 70 degree range for most of ENC. Cooler 60s along the OBX with adjacent cold water.

Long Term

Wednesday night through Tuesday As of 3 PM Tue,

Key Messages,

- Mostly dry conditions expected into this weekend with only some minor chances for light rain

- Above normal conditions continue through this weekend, with highs in the 65-72 range each day (except Friday which will be cooler in the 50s to low 60s)

- A pattern changing arctic cold front will move through the area Sunday or early Monday and bring a return to below normal temps early next week

Christmas Day, A strong ridge of high pressure will develop across the Gulf States pumping warm swrly winds into ENC. This will give us warm temps in the 60s (beaches) to low 70s (interior).

Friday through Sunday, Brief cool day Fri behind backdoor cold front with highs near climo in the mid 50s to low 60s. Warm front then pushes north Friday night with perhaps best chance for overrunning light rain, with 20-60% pops, highest nern zones and lowest swrn zones. Temps warm up behind front with swrly flow ensuing and highs in the 60s beaches to low 70s inland this weekend.

Sunday night through Tuesday, Next cold front sweeps through late Sunday with next chc of rain, but only small chances as GOM will be cut off with most of the energy and moisture being absorbed by the Appalachians. Much colder air mass builds in behind arctic front with highs in the 30s-40s and lows in the 20s.

Aviation

00z Wednesday through Sunday As of 1845 Tuesday,

Drier air aloft has moved in leading to SKC. While drying will occur aloft, the near-surface layer is expected to remain fairly moist through tonight, and with light winds, this may allow a risk of BR/FG to develop. For all TAF sites, probabilistic guidance only shows a 10-20% chance of sub VFR VIS developing. However, this risk is probably a bit higher for areas where rain fell earlier today. For the TAF sites, this would only include PGV. At time of writing, PGV has decoupled, but this is only expected to be temporary with FROPA expected after midnight tonight. This is something we'll continue to monitor in later TAF updates, but for now the risk appears too low to mention in TAFs. Drier low- level air then filters in on Wednesday behind the front. That boundary will lead to a northerly wind shift, along with a bump up in winds in the afternoon.

For the next few hours, a moderate southwesterly low- level jet will continue to support a risk of LLWS impacts for OAJ/EWN, but this threat is waning and pushing offshore.

Outlook: Generally quiet through the end of the week with VFR conditions expected for much of ENC.

Marine

As of 1930 Tuesday, Gale gusts have dropped off over GStream waters. Have been replaced with SCAs.

Key Messages,

- Gale warning was able to be cancelled early

- Small Craft conditions will be seen over the coastal waters

- On Wednesday, a surge of northerly winds will bring SCA for Croatan/Roanoke/Pamlico sounds and keep high seas in place for the coastal waters.

- On and off Small Craft conditions expected for the Gulf Stream waters the weekend with general swrly flow. Tonight, Strong marine inversion keeping winds in the 5-10 kt g 15 kt range for Pamlico Sound and remaining sounds/rivers. Just offshore however, Diamond Shoals gusting to gale force due to warm waters providing good mixing. Should remain sub SCA through this evening for the sounds.

Wednesday, There will be a brief period of sub SCA conditions over central and Sern coastal waters behind the front, but not long enough of a lull to warrant a separate SCA for the afternoon Northerly surge which will bring back low end SCA wind gusts. Have just extended the SCA from tonight through the Nerly surge. Pamlico/croatan/roanoke sounds have had an SCA added for Wed afternoon as well. The SCA will linger longer over the coastal waters with high seas 6+ ft hanging on through Wed evening.

Thursday, Return swrly flow brings another bout of SCA for the Gulf waters south of Oregon Inlet. Backdoor front brings nerly surge of SCA or near SCA for all sounds and coastal waters.

Friday through Sunday, Winds and seas relax below SCA on Fri. Light winds through Sat with good boating conditions. Next Front moves through late Sun with SCA conditions developing Sun night.

Watches, Warnings, Advisories

Nc, none. Marine, small craft advisory from noon to 6 pm EST Wednesday for amz135-231. Small craft advisory until 10 pm EST Wednesday for amz150-156. Small craft advisory until 1 am EST Thursday for amz152-154. Small craft advisory until 3 am EST Wednesday for amz158.

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