Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Charleston, SC
Issued by NWS Charleston, SC
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289 FXUS62 KCHS 031853 AFDCHS Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Charleston SC 253 PM EDT Fri May 3 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Atlantic high pressure will remain across the Southeast U.S. through much of next week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... The sea breeze is making good progress inland this afternoon with cumulus slowly scouring out in its wake. The best chances for showers/tstms for the remainder of the afternoon/evening still looks to be centered across far interior Southeast Georgia, roughly in the Millen-Reidsville corridor, where the best 850 hPa theta-e pooling and mixed-layered instability will occur. The risk for showers/tstms will persist for much of the night across the interior where weak forcing associated with several impulses moving across the Deep South into the western Southeast U.S. will brush by to the northwest. Enough lingering subtropical ridging aloft will hold along the coastal areas to keep those areas dry overnight, but there are some signals that a slight increase in the southerly could produce isolated convection over the Charleston County coastal waters early Saturday morning. Some of this could make a run for central and upper Charleston County, but any such activity looks to remain fairly brief and transient. No mentionable pops will be included to cover this activity right now as probabilities for anything measurable occurring are still very low. 20-30% pops were held across the far interior for much of the night. Conditions do not look ideal for significant fog development overnight as mid/high-level clouds will be thickening with time. Some low stratus will likely develop well inland which could yield some patchy fog where localized stratus build-down occurs. Widespread dense fog does not appear likely this morning unlike the last two. Lows will range from the mid 60s well inland to the lower 70s at the beaches and Downtown Charleston. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... Ridging aloft will be in place just off the southeastern coastline, while across the southeastern states a series of shortwave troughs ripple through. At the surface high pressure will extend into the region from the east. Between the shortwave energy aloft and the afternoon sea breeze isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible each afternoon. While a strong thunderstorm cannot be ruled out, the overall severe threat will be low. Shear values are not impressive and there appears to be model disagreements on how much instability will be in place. High temperatures will follow a slight warming trend through the weekend and into early next week. upper 70s to low 80s are forecast Saturday, with mid to upper 80s by Monday. Overnight low temperatures will remain quite mild and well above normal, generally in the mid to upper 60s. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... The highlight of the long term period will be the heat, as high pressure builds at the surface and ridging builds aloft. A lack of any forcing aloft will limit any shower/thunderstorm activity. Temperatures are expected to rise into the low to mid 90s by Thursday. While heat indices will likely remain below advisory levels, temperatures could approach record levels on Wednesday and Thursday. && .AVIATION /17Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... 04/18z TAF Discussion: KCHS/KJZI/KSAV: No major issues are expected. VFR conditions will prevail. There are signals that some shallow fog and/or status could impact KSAV early Saturday morning, but with increasing mid-level clouds expected, conditions do not look overly favorable for fog/stratus development at this time. This will be monitored carefully, however. Any risk for isolated/scattered shower/tstm impacts look to hold to the west for all terminals this afternoon into tonight. Extended Aviation Outlook: Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible through Monday. && .MARINE... Tonight: There are no concerns for tonight. Southeast winds will average 5-10 kt with seas 1-2 ft. Saturday through Wednesday: High pressure will prevail across the local marine waters through the period, yielding rather benign conditions. Southerly winds in the morning will back out of the southeast during the afternoon and evening hours nearly each day as the sea breeze develops. Winds will average 10-15 kt with seas 2-3 ft. && .CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. SC...None. MARINE...None. && $$