Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Charleston, SC

Home |  Current Version |  Previous Version |  Text Only |  Print | Product List |  Glossary On
Versions: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
-- Highlight Changed Discussion --
-- Discussion containing changed information from previous version are highlighted. --
593 FXUS62 KCHS 200519 AFDCHS Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Charleston SC 119 AM EDT Thu Jun 20 2024 .SYNOPSIS... High pressure will extend across the region into Thursday. A tropical wave will impact the Southeast U.S coast Thursday night into Friday. High pressure will return over the weekend. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH 6 AM THURSDAY/...
-- Changed Discussion --
The forecast area will remain between a sfc ridge across the central Carolinas and a wave of low pressure to the northeast of the Bahamas. A region of moisture convergence will persist along the coast through most of the night, especially the Georgia coastal counties. Isolated to scattered showers will develop in waves as a result. Low temperatures are forecast to range from the mid and upper 60s inland to the lower and middle 70s along the coast.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .SHORT TERM /6 AM THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
-- Changed Discussion --
A ridge of high pressure will continue to hold influence over the local area on Thursday. Meanwhile, a trough of low pressure will shift westward towards the Southeast coast. While a few showers can`t be ruled out primarily at the coast, similar to previous days, forecast soundings indicate dry air and strong subsidence which will act to limit shower activity. Highs will mainly be in the upper 80s to lower 90s. Lows will range from the mid 60s across the interior to mid 70s at the immediate coast. The aforementioned trough will likely shift onshore somewhere near the GA/FL border early Friday. PWats will steadily increase, forecast to exceed 2 inches by Friday, and showers are expected to shift onshore through the day. While there should be a fair amount of coverage, no rainfall/flooding concerns are anticipated. Highs will again be seasonable, in the upper 80s to lower 90s. Lows Friday night will be in the 70s. Mid level ridge settles over the southern U.S. on Saturday, while the remnant trough appears to linger over the area at the surface. Showers and thunderstorms will be possible, with highest coverage focused over southeast Georgia in proximity to better moisture and convergence. High temperatures will peak in the low to mid 90s.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Mid level ridge weakens early next week in response to a stronger wave passing from the Great Lakes region through the mid-Atlantic states. This could send a cold front towards the area, but it is unlikely to make a clear passage. Should see a return to a more seasonable diurnal convective pattern. Monday could be the more active day of the set with the approaching front. Temperatures will heat up with highs forecast to reach the mid to upper 90s inland of the beaches. With elevated dew points, it will feel even hotter. Current forecast indicates heat indices generally peaking around 105, with a few spots up to 108. Will continue to monitor the potential need for Heat Advisories. Main question mark will be the extent of convection and if that will disturb the temperature trends. && .AVIATION /06Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
-- Changed Discussion --
KCHS/KJZI/KSAV: Little to no chance of any showers at the terminal Thursday evening. Showers and a few t-storms associated with a tropical wave to the south will not reach the terminals until near the very end of this forecast cycle, or beyond. As a result we have VFR conditions prevailing, with any ceilings around 3500 feet. All sites will experience gusty easterly winds yet again late this morning into the evening, frequently achieving 20-25 kt, and occasionally stronger. Extended Aviation Outlook: Flight restrictions will be possible at all terminals late Thursday night into Friday with low clouds and showers/thunderstorms moving onshore.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .MARINE...
-- Changed Discussion --
Overnight: Breezy east winds 15-20 kt with gusts to 25-30 kt will persist across the waters tonight. Seas will average 4-6 ft nearshore waters and 5-7 ft over the Georgia offshore waters. Small Craft Advisories remain in effect for all waters through the night. Winds in the Charleston Harbor have dropped just below advisory levels, but will remain somewhat elevated through the night. Waves in the Charleston Harbor will be 1-2 ft. Thursday through Monday: High pressure will continue to extend across inland areas while an inverted trough approaches and eventually moves onshore the Southeast coast late week. This will drive gusty east-northeast winds over the coastal waters. Seas also remain elevated, as high as 5-6 ft across nearshore zones and 6-8 ft beyond 20 nm. These conditions will support a continuation of ongoing Small Craft Advisories through Friday morning. For the Charleston Harbor, another Advisory could be needed for Thursday as wind gusts approach 25 knots. Conditions will start to improve on Friday. Winds and seas should then remain below Advisory levels through early next week. Rip Currents: A High Risk for rip currents will continue through Thursday across all area beaches. An enhanced risk of rip currents is expected to persist through the end of the week as long period swell impacts the region.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... Tides are already more than a foot above astronomical levels, and with a continued moderate to strong easterly wind, and the Full Moon to occur Friday evening, those departures could grow even more. It is possible minor coastal flooding could occur over the coastal sections of Charleston and Colleton Counties with the Thursday evening and maybe Friday evening high tide. Tides elsewhere are forecast to remain below minor flood stage. && .CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
-- Changed Discussion --
GA...High Risk for Rip Currents through this evening for GAZ117-119-139- 141. SC...High Risk for Rip Currents through this evening for SCZ048>051. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 2 PM EDT Friday for AMZ350-352-354. Small Craft Advisory until 11 PM EDT Friday for AMZ374.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& $$ NEAR TERM... SHORT TERM... LONG TERM... AVIATION... MARINE...