Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Columbia, SC

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914 FXUS62 KCAE 202252 AFDCAE Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Columbia SC 652 PM EDT Mon May 20 2024 .SYNOPSIS... High pressure will dominate the region through early Thursday keeping fair and dry conditions in place along with warming temperatures. A frontal boundary will approach the region Friday and is expected to stall just north of the area resulting in chances of showers and thunderstorms Friday into next weekend. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
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With high pressure across the region tonight, expect clouds to dissipate quickly by sunset. Light winds will occur overnight, and even though much of the atmospheric column is dry, there may still be enough low-level moisture late tonight to allow for at least some patchy fog formation. Lows will be slightly below normal, with upper 50s to lower 60s expected overnight.
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&& .SHORT TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/... High pressure aloft and at the surface will remain in place across the region through midweek with upper ridging overhead and surface ridge extending from the Mid-Atlantic coast through the Carolinas. The atmosphere remains stable and dry during this period with PWATs around 60-80 percent of normal and forecast soundings showing a prominent subsidence inversion and significant dry air in the mid and lower levels. Therefore, no rainfall in the forecast through Wednesday night as it should all remain well to the west associated with a low pressure system lifting northeastward into the western Great Lakes and cold front pushing into the Ohio/Mississippi Valleys. Temperatures will be warming into the upper 80s to around 90 degrees near to above normal and overnight lows also above normal. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... Ensemble guidance continues to favor one more rain free day on Thursday under the influence of upper ridging with forecast soundings showing a slightly weaker but still prominent subsidence inversion. Surface ridge axis will be east of the forecast area offshore on Thursday allowing for southerly flow and PWATs are expected to rise slightly above normal with the axis of highest moisture pooled along an approaching frontal boundary over the southern Ohio Valley into the Mid-Atlantic states. Friday through the weekend, atmospheric moisture should remain above normal and the upper ridge flattens in response to shortwave energy moving through the 500mb flow which transitions more zonal during this period. Above normal PWATs combining with increasing instability and a series of shortwaves moving over the region through the weekend will keep chances of rain in the forecast. While it is still too far out to have much confidence in possible severe weather, 60-70 percent of the ensemble guidance shows SBCAPE values greater than 500 j/kg. Temperatures are expected to remain above normal throughout the period with highs in the upper 80s to possibly lower 90s. && .AVIATION /00Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
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High pressure will rule through Tuesday with light northeast winds and dry conditions. Only potential issue across the area will be some ground fog at AGS late tonight an early Tuesday morning that could cause some brief periods of MVFR, or possibly even IFR. Otherwise, VFR conditions will prevail through Tuesday. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...No significant flight restrictions are currently anticipated through Wednesday. Low probability of restrictions during the late week period from afternoon and evening convection.
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&& .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...None. GA...None. && $$