Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Charleston, SC

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925 FXUS62 KCHS 232007 AFDCHS Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Charleston SC 407 PM EDT Thu May 23 2024 .SYNOPSIS... High pressure will persist through tonight. Diurnal convection and hot temperatures are expected during the holiday weekend. A cold front might bring impacts to our area on Tuesday. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM FRIDAY MORNING/...
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Into this evening: The CAMs continue to show isolated convection developing on microscale boundaries, and as of this writing the KCLX radar was showing a couple of showers trying to form. Given a decent cap remaining in place, we prefer to keep things rainfree. We`ll carry 10% chances just in case someone experiences a stray shower. Temperatures will peak in the upper 80s to near 90F away from the coast, dropping to the upper 70s and lower 80s by sunset, as sea breeze circulations eventually fades. Tonight: The mid and upper ridge axis over the Atlantic has given way to westerly flow across the Deep South and Southeast as a couple of convectively induced waves ripple east out of the lower and middle Mississippi River Valley. Convection associated with one of these waves over and near the southern Appalachians will move east or east-northeast through the night. The steering flow is expected to keep it outside the forecast district, although the remnants of the activity could skirt Berkeley County closer to daybreak. We`ll keep PoPs at less than 15%, so no mention is required in the forecast. It`s possible that this decaying convection might leave an outflow boundary nearby into Friday. It`ll be a warm night with temperatures around 5F above climo since the dew points are higher within a south-southwest synoptic flow.
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&& .SHORT TERM /6 AM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY/...
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Friday: Interesting setup across the forecast area by Friday afternoon. Using a blend of MOS, high temperatures are forecast to favor values in the low 90s across SE GA/SC. Forecast soundings indicate by Friday afternoon, SBCAPE values along and ahead of sea breeze will pool between 2500-3000 J/kg with little to no CIN. Guidance indicates that a MCV, sourced from the Deep South, is expected to pass over the forecast area Friday afternoon. The combination of the mid-level disturbance and sea breeze should concentrate thunderstorm coverage over the CHS Tri-county. PW values around 1.7 inches with SRH 0-3 km around 100 m2/s2. These thunderstorms should develop into loosely organized clusters. In addition, DCAPE values are forecast to range between 900-1000 J/kg, likely supporting long lasting cool pools of outflow air, serving as areas for thunderstorm development. These thunderstorms should produce swaths of torrential downpours, yielding pockets of 1.5 to 2 inches with a general area of .5-1 inch of rainfall. In addition, one or two storms may produce damaging wind gusts. These hazards will be added to the Hazardous Weather Outlook. Saturday: The broad mid-level trough will ripple over the Atlantic during the morning, with heights beginning to rise during the afternoon. Surface conditions should once again feature high temperatures in the low 90s with dewpoints in the low 70s. Model guidance indicates that a field of CAPE of 1500-2000 J/kg with shallow CIN should develop by the heat of the afternoon. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms should develop along a sea breeze, but less coverage that expected on Friday. Sunday: GFS indicates that a broad H5 ridge will build across the region. Conditions should become hot and humid during the afternoon. High temperatures are expected to range in the mid 90s with dewpoints in the low 70s along the coast. Heat index values may exceed 100 degrees across the coastal counties, especially across SE GA. Given poor mid-level lapse rates, convection will be limited to a SCHC.
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&& .LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/...
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The H5 ridge axis will shift east on Memorial Day, with heights slowly falling from west to east during the afternoon. Temperatures should peak within a degree or two from values reached on Sunday. Tuesday appears to be an active day, with the approach and passage of a cold front. The forecast will feature solid CHC PoPs at this time. However, if upstream MCS activity arrives over the CWA from upstream, PoPs will need to be increased. High temperatures are forecast to range around 90 degrees. Drier air should spread across the forecast area on Wednesday and Thursday. High temperatures should favor values in the upper 80s.
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&& .AVIATION /19Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
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VFR conditions are expected at the CHS/JZI/SAV terminals through 18Z Friday. Cumulus will continue into the early evening, with skies BKN at times around 5K feet. There might be a stray pop-up on the sea breeze through 22-23Z at KSAV and maybe KCHS. But little or no impacts would occur. Any risk for convection on Friday looks to not occur until after 17-18Z Friday. Extended Aviation Outlook: Brief flight restrictions are possible due to showers/thunderstorms each afternoon/evening.
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&& .MARINE...
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Into this evening: Southerly winds will reach 10-15 kt with the sea breeze influences, before they gradually diminish after sunset. For tonight: The local waters will be positioned on the western side of Atlantic high pressure that is centered to the east of Bermuda. The gradient is fairly relaxed, so S or S-SW winds will be no more than about 10 or 12 kt. Seas will be just 2 feet. Extended Marine: The forecast area will remain between high pressure across the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico and a series of low pressure tracking over the Mid West. This pattern should result in a sea breeze to develop each afternoon. A cold front should sweep across the coastal waters on Tuesday. Wind and sea conditions should remain below Small Craft Advisory conditions. Rip Currents: The combination of astronomical influences from the Full Moon, modest onshore winds, and a small swell will lead to an enhanced risk of rip currents into this evening at all of our beaches. At this time the risk looks low for Friday.
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&& .CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. SC...None. MARINE...None. && $$ NEAR TERM... SHORT TERM... LONG TERM... AVIATION... MARINE...