919
FXUS62 KCHS 091139
AFDCHS

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston SC
739 AM EDT Thu May 9 2024

.SYNOPSIS...
A cold front will approach the area tonight, then move offshore
Friday. High pressure will prevail for the weekend into early
next week. A storm system could affect the area by the middle
of next week.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
Early this morning, regional radar composite indicated a cluster
of decaying convection over the Midlands and PeeDee, tracking
east. The bulk of this activity should pass north of the
forecast area before sunrise this morning. However, it is
possible that portions of Berkeley Counties could be brushed
with a shower/storm or two. In addition, KCLX detected an old
outflow boundary over Hampton, Colleton, and southern Charleston
Co. South of the boundary, and area of stratus has developed
over SE GA, stratus should mix out during the first 2-3 hours of
daylight.

By sunrise, debris clouds has covered much of the SC Lowcountry
with stratus over most of SE GA. After the stratus dissipates or
mixes out later this morning, portions of SE GA will become
partly sunny. Temperatures are forecast to rapidly warm this
morning as the forecast area remains under WAA and passing cloud
breaks. In fact, temperatures are forecast to peak around mid-
day in the upper 80s inland to around 90 degrees across the
coastal counties. The warmest temperatures should occur over SE
GA. Given dewpoints in the low 70s, SBCAPE values should build
to 1500-2000 J/kg. In addition, effective bulk shear will
increase through this morning, reaching 45-50 kts by mid-day.
High resolution guidance indicates that a MCS will push SE
across northern AL and GA during the early daylight hours. As
the system moves across central GA and AL, convection is
expected to begin to strengthen, merging with new showers and
thunderstorms initiated over AL. In addition, DCAPE values are
forecast to remain in excess of 1000 J/kg. The MCS should
maintain or intensify a large cold pool as the convection surges
southeast across the Fall Line during the mid-day. A severe
squall line should develop over the Fall Line, reaching the
inland counties of SE GA and the SC Lowcountry just after noon
time. The line of thunderstorms is anticipated to rapidly push
across the forecast area, with storm motions around 45 mph.
These storms should produce swaths of damaging wind gusts,
likely resulting in numerous downed trees. The most vigorous
updrafts should occur over SE GA, some severe hail event are
possible. SPC has highlighted the region with a Enhanced risk
generally south of the Edisto River with a Slight risk to the
north.

The leading line of strong to severe thunderstorms are timed to
reach the coast between 4-6 pm. These storms will remain potentially
severe as they track across the marine zones. In the wake of the
storms, an area of stratiform rainfall will persist across the
forecast area into the early evening hours. Isolated thunder will
remain possible within the stratiform rain this evening. The
rainfall will either dissipate or push east of the forecast area by
mid-evening. The rest of the night should remain generally dry.
However, a second MCS will near or arrive from the west during the
pre-dawn hours Friday morning. Rain-cooled temperatures are expected
to remain nearly steady around 70 degrees tonight.

&&

.SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
Friday: We remain focused on Friday with another potential severe
weather day ahead. By morning, the cold front will be positioned
across the SC/GA Midlands. The front is not expected to clear the
area until late, therefore we could see another round of convection
moving in from the west some time between late morning and afternoon
as the boundary presses toward the coast. This is another highly
uncertain event with a range of possibilities, noted by differing
solutions for nearly each model. Most models do show some sort of
line/cluster of showers and thunderstorms moving through the
forecast area at some point during the day however. One possibility
is that lingering showers/thunderstorms in the morning could delay
destabilization, which will inhibit deep convection later in the
afternoon. There are also signals of an upstream MCV propagating
across southern AL/GA and northern FL, which could advance into
southeast Georgia and portions of southeast South Carolina. However
these southerly systems have the potential to greatly alter the
downstream environment by cutting off southerly flow/moisture across
the forecast area, thus inhibiting destabilization. On the other
hand, a moderate break from the previous night`s convection and
perhaps a slight break in clouds would destabilize the environment
early on, allowing for a rich, untapped environment for
strong/severe storms to develop. Overall, it is unclear how the
severe threat will pan out Friday, and there is a degree of
dependence on the evolution of Thursday`s event. With that said, any
severe storms that develop would be capable of producing damaging
wind gusts, large hail, and/or an isolated tornado. Outside of
severe weather, showers and even general thunderstorms could result
in locally heavy downpours with PWATS in the 1.6-1.8" range.
Guidance hints towards the greatest rainfall amounts falling south
of the Savannah River. Showers and thunderstorms should push
offshore by the evening with conditions rapidly clearing behind the
front. Max temperatures will be slightly cooler due to ongoing or
afternoon convection, with highs in the mid 80s. FROPA and clearing
skies will cause temperatures to significantly drop Friday night,
with lows in the mid to upper 50s inland and lower 60s along the
coast.

Saturday and Sunday: Quasi-zonal flow will exist aloft and general
high pressure will gradually build. A cool, dry air mass will move
into the area behind the cold front bringing rain-free conditions.
Mostly sunny skies are expected both days with highs peaking in the
upper 70s to low 80s Saturday and low to mid 80s Sunday. A
relatively cool night is expected Saturday, with lows in the mid to
upper 50s inland and lower 60s along the coast.

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Early next week will briefly start off quiet before a warm front
extending across the Deep South lifts north. Conditions look quite
unsettled beginning late Monday night into Wednesday. Rain chances
were increased into the likely range (55-70%) during this period due
to the consensus of deep moisture moving in, in addition to
plentiful forcing aloft with a shortwave traversing the Central U.S.
Near normal temperatures are expected to rise through the middle of
next week owing to southerly flow.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
VFR conditions are expected to prevail at KCHS and KJZI into
early this afternoon. KSAV may see MVFR ceilings remain until
14Z. The primary concern will be the threat for severe
thunderstorms this afternoon. A line of thunderstorms will
approach from the west this morning. Based on radar trends and
recent HRRR runs, the leading edge of the thunderstorms is
expected to reach KCHS, KSAV, and KJZI by 18Z. The TAFs will
feature gusty west winds and TSRA by 18z. The environment may
support severe wind gust and possibly hail. The KCHS and KJZI
TAFs will include a TEMPO from 18-21Z for VRB20G30kts and MVFR
conditions during TSRAs. KSAV may see stronger wind gusts, TSRA
risk from 18-22Z. High resolution guidance indicates that the
thunderstorms will push east over the Atlantic by late this
afternoon, with generally stratiform rain with isolated
lightning remaining into the early to mid evening. Forecast
soundings and MOS indicate that MVFR to IFR ceilings may develop
over the terminals late tonight.

Extended Aviation Outlook: Scattered to numerous showers and
thunderstorms could continue into Friday afternoon with flight
restrictions and gusty winds possible within convection. VFR
conditions will return for the weekend into early next week.

&&

.MARINE...
Southwest winds will gradually strengthen through the day, generally
ranging between 15-20kts this afternoon. A few periods of gusts
around 25 kts are possible across the Charleston County nearshore
waters this afternoon. A Small Craft Advisory could be issued later
today. Seas should favor values between 3-4 ft, with 5 ft seas
possible across portions of the Charleston Co. nearshore. Otherwise,
the primary concern will be the passage of a squall line of
thunderstorms late this afternoon into early this evening. These
storms could potential produce gusts in excess of 50 kts and
possibly a waterspout. Convection should end over the marine zones
this evening. Winds tonight will return from the southwest between
15 to 20 kts. Wave heights of 2-4 ft will be common tonight.

Friday: A strong cold front will push offshore late, causing SW
winds to shift out of the north. Marginal Small Craft Advisory
conditions are expected Friday afternoon through Friday night with
gusts ranging between 20-25 kt. At this time, the Charleston County
nearshore waters out to 20nm and the outer Georgia waters from 20-
60nm look the most promising for any advisories that could be
needed. Seas will be slightly elevated with 2-4 ft in the nearshore
waters and 5 ft seas beyond 20nm. Another concern for the local
waters will be the potential for strong thunderstorms Friday
afternoon. There is still a large degree of uncertainty; however,
any storms that do develop and move across the waters will be
capable of producing strong wind gusts.

Saturday through Tuesday: Marine conditions will improve Saturday
morning as high pressure builds in from the west. Northerly winds
will shift out of the south with speeds dropping to 10 kt or less
and seas averaging 1-3 ft through Monday. Monday night into Tuesday
winds and seas look to increase/build ahead of the next storm
system.

&&

.CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...None.
SC...None.
MARINE...None.

&&

$$

NEAR TERM...NED
SHORT TERM...BRM
LONG TERM...BRM
AVIATION...BRM/NED
MARINE...BRM/NED