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131
FXUS62 KCAE 200903
AFDCAE

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Columbia SC
503 AM 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
Thursday  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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Areas of low clouds and patchy fog have developed early this
morning. These clouds may result in locally reduced visibilities
but widespread fog is not expected. Lows remain on track to
fall into the upper 50s to lower 60s.

Any low clouds and/or patchy fog early this morning should burn
off with scattered cumulus developing in the afternoon. The
region stays dry with stable conditions in place courtesy of
upper ridging building in and high pressure to our north.
Northeasterly flow results in near to slightly below normal
temperatures today with forecast highs in the upper 70s to lower
80s. Any clouds should dissipate quickly this evening with the
loss of daytime heating with clear skies expected tonight.
Overnight temperatures will be a degree or two warmer with most
locations dropping into the upper 50s to lower 60s by daybreak
on Tuesday.
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&&

.SHORT TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
Tuesday through Wednesday night will be dominated by surface
high pressure and upper level ridging. This will keep dry air
in the mid and upper levels over the region while at the surface
weak moisture return will begin Wednesday. Pwat values will be
around 0.8 inches Tuesday and increase to around 1.0 inches
Wednesday. With a subsidence inversion and the dry air aloft
continue to expect some vertically limited diurnal cumulus each
day with no showers or thunderstorms. Cumulus which develop will
dissipate with sunset providing partly cloudy days and mostly
clear nights with winds generally around 5 mph each day. With
the upper level ridging and increasing heights temperatures will
be rising each day with highs Tuesday afternoon in the mid 80s
and into the upper 80s Wednesday. Radiational cooling conditions
will be excellent Tuesday night allowing lows to drop into the
upper 50s to around 60 then increasing clouds will limit cooling
Wednesday night yielding lows in the lower 60s.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
Models have generally remained on track with minor changes this
run which keeps the GFS the more dynamic solution through the
long term with the ECMWF taking a more zonal approach. A cold
front will be moving toward the region Thursday then stall just
north of the area Thursday night and Friday. Southerly flow
Thursday and Friday will keep moisture advecting into the area
with pwats Thursday reaching 1.25 inches and 1.5 inches Friday.
Although moisture will be on the rise with the front struggling
to reach the area a strong trigger mechanism for convection will
be lacking. With the upper level trough flattening in response
to a short wave passing north of the region expect the potential
for other short waves to possibly generate some convection or
even the sea breeze during the afternoon and evening hours.
Overall the highest potential for convection Thursday and Friday
remains over the northern Midlands and Pee Dee closer to the
frontal boundary. For Saturday and Sunday an upper level short
wave will be crossing the region Saturday with the upper level
pattern returning to more zonal on Sunday. With moisture
remaining above seasonal levels expect chances of showers and
thunderstorms each day. High temperatures through the long term
will be near to slightly above normal.

&&

.AVIATION /09Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
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Watching for Early Morning Fog Development. Otherwise, VFR
Conditions Likely through the Period....

Areas of low clouds and patchy fog have developed early this
morning. Thus far, only AGS has experienced restrictions but
trends will be monitored at the remaining terminals. Any low
clouds and/or patchy fog should lift later this morning with
scattered cumulus developing in the afternoon. However, the
region stays dry with stable conditions in place. VFR conditions
will persist into Monday night.

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.

&&

$$