Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Charleston, SC

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155 FXUS62 KCHS 040158 AFDCHS Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Charleston SC 958 PM EDT Mon Jun 3 2024 .SYNOPSIS... High pressure will extend across the area through Wednesday. A cold front will approach from the northwest on Thursday, then slowly move through on Friday. High pressure returns for the weekend. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM TUESDAY MORNING/...
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Late this evening, KCLX has detected isolated showers and thunderstorms across portions of Jenkins and Screven Counties. The convection has been focused along an old outflow boundary. Based on recent runs of the HRRR, the lingering convection may dissipate before midnight. Otherwise, conditions across the CWA should feature light winds with a partly cloudy sky. Minimum temperatures tonight are forecast to range from the upper 60s inland to the low 70s along the coast.
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&& .SHORT TERM /6 AM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY/... Tuesday will bring an abrupt changed from upper subsidence to broad lift as a potent shortwave is forecast to move in from the west later in the afternoon. Surface ridge axis oriented along the Savannah River area will discourage convection locally through early afternoon, but a few showers and storms developing over the Midlands could work toward the SC I-95 corridor by mid afternoon, with the progression of the sea breeze and additional boundary collisions prompting continued convective initiation inland through the later afternoon and into the early evening. PWATs above 1.8" and moderate instability should be in place during the afternoon, and some localized downpours and gusty winds are possible under the strongest storms inland, but the overall severe and heavy rainfall threat is very low. Wednesday has trended a bit more active as mid-level height falls increase later in the day with weaker surface ridging/greater deep moisture content relative to Tuesday. Southerly prevailing flow should allow for a more progressive sea breeze in the afternoon. Widespread convection now looking likely in the afternoon inland, with activity more uncertain/scattered near the coast, depending on the progression of the sea breeze. Model DCAPE values exceed 1000 J/kg over inland areas so we could see some gusty winds in some storms, with PWAT values near 1.8 in bringing the potential for some localized downpours, though storm motions on the order of 10-15 kt should limit any flooding threat. Thursday could be the most active day of the week, with the upper pattern transitioning to troughing, and a shortwave crossing the area during the day as ample low level moisture remains in place ahead of an approaching cold front. While the overall severe and heavy rainfall threat will be largely dependent on the timing of the upper shortwave (too early in the day will result in convective suppression during peak heating), Thursday justifies continued monitoring with at least a conditional heavy rainfall and severe thunderstorm threat. Additionally, highs in the lower to mid 90s and dew point values in the upper 60s to lower 70s will bring heat index values to near 100F, one of the warmest days of the season so far. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/... A cold front drops through the area on Friday, however convective coverage is uncertain since mid-level subsidence seems likely given the quasi-zonal flow. Compressional heating looks to push highs into the low to mid 90s. A noticeable airmass change is expected this weekend as high pressure builds from the northwest. Downslope flow should still keep highs above 90 in most spots, but dewpoints should mix down into the upper 50s to lower 60s. && .AVIATION /02Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... VFR conditions expected at KCHS, KJZI, and KSAV through mid-day Tuesday. Sea breeze thunderstorms are possible near KCHS between 19-21Z Tuesday. The KCHS TAF will feature a PROB30 for -TSRA along with gusty winds and MVFR visibility. Otherwise, showers and thunderstorms should develop too far inland of KJZI and KSAV to mention in the TAFs. Extended Aviation Outlook: Outside of any convection, conditions will be VFR through the period. && .MARINE... This evening and tonight: The coastal waters will be situated under the western side of the Bermuda-Azores High, leading to a S or SSE flow, that turns more SW over the Charleston County waters late. Sea breeze influences will allow for some gusts near 20 kt at times in Charleston Harbor early on, otherwise winds will be 15 or less throughout. Seas will be just 2 or 3 feet. Tuesday through Saturday: High pressure will remain over the western Atlantic Tuesday through Thursday night, maintaining southerly flow at or below 15 kt, seas at or below 4 ft, and a daily sea breeze circulation along the coast. A cold front will move through on Friday, briefly shifting winds to the NW before they turn back E by Saturday. && .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... Astronomical tides are on the rise this week. Although wind direction is not particularly favorable for surge, we continue to see a positive tidal anomaly of 0.5 to 0.7 ft. The evening high tides Tuesday through Thursday could reach at least 7.0 ft MLLW in Charleston, necessitating Coastal Flood Advisories. && .CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. SC...None. MARINE...None. && $$ NEAR TERM...NED SHORT TERM... LONG TERM... AVIATION...NED MARINE...