550
FXUS62 KCHS 191839
AFDCHS

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston SC
239 PM EDT Sun May 19 2024

.SYNOPSIS...
A cold front will cross through our area later today. High
pressure then prevails for most of this week, followed by
another storm system potentially impacting our area late this
week.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
Satellite water vapor indicated the center of a mid-level
vorticity maximum over south-central GA, tracking to the SE.
A band of strong to severe thunderstorms developed along a cold
front earlier this afternoon. This band will continue to slide
south, tapping into a unstable environment. CAPE in excess of
2000 J/kg, DCAPE between 600-800 J/kg, and effective bulk shear
around 30 kts may support strong to severe thunderstorms over
the lower Savannah River Basin, including the City of Savannah
this afternoon. These storms may produce damaging wind gusts and
even hail up to the size of half dollars.

PW values are forecast to increase to around 1.6 inches this
afternoon. The combination of deep instability, adequate
atmospheric moisture, and storm motions less than 25 MPH could
result in pockets of torrential downpours. In fact, arriving 12z
HREF data continues to indicate impressive probabilities of
3"/3hr within 40 km across portions of coastal SC and GA,
especially a corridor from southern Charleston County south to
coastal GA. Flood Advisories appear possible for these area this
afternoon, possibly a Flash Flood Warning.

Tonight: Short-wave trough axis will slowly push off the coast
while surface high pressure wedges down from the north.
Convection will run its course this evening with thinning cloud
cover during the overnight hours. Cooler temperatures...dipping
down through the 60s for lows.

&&

.SHORT TERM /MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Monday: The mid-levels will consist of a positively tilted trough
just off the Southeast U.S. coast in the morning, and a ridge just
to our west. The ridge will slowly build into our area as time
progresses. At the surface, High pressure centered well to our north
will build down the coast as time progresses, with it`s southern
periphery making its way into our area. The High will bring dry
conditions with skies becoming mostly sunny/clear. Low-level
thickness values support temperatures in the middle 80s. But we went
a little below this due to the northeasterly surface winds and the
expectation that surface evaporation should limit temperatures.
Highs should peak in the lower 80s. Lows should range from the upper
50s far inland to the mid 60s closer to the coast.

Tuesday: A positively tilted mid-level trough will be just off the
Southeast U.S. coast in the morning, transitioning into a cut- off
Low in the evening and overnight. Meanwhile, a ridge will strengthen
over the Southeast U.S. Broad High pressure centered to our north in
the morning will shift off the Mid-Atlantic Coast as the day
progresses. Though, it`s southern periphery will continue to
dominate our weather during the day and into the night. Subsidence
will yield dry conditions with mostly sunny/clear skies. High
temperatures should be in the mid 80s, except cooler at the beaches.
Lows should range from the upper 50s far inland to the mid 60s
closer to the coast.

Wednesday: The mid-levels will consist of a cut-off Low meandering
off the Southeast coast, while a ridge prevails over the Southeast
U.S. At the surface, High pressure along the Southeast coast in the
morning will shift offshore into the afternoon. A front will slowly
approach from the north and northwest. Though, it won`t make it near
our area as the High will remain the dominant synoptic feature. Some
of the models hint at isolated weak showers trying to form along the
inland moving sea breeze late in the afternoon. But it`s still a
little too early to determine if the dry air in place will
completely squash these weak showers. Expect at least partly sunny
skies. Highs will peak in the mid to upper 80s, except cooler at the
beaches.

&&

.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...
Mid-level ridging will be over our region Wednesday night, followed
by west southwest flow on Thursday. A weak trough may pass to our
north Friday night into Saturday. Surface High pressure in the
western Atlantic on Thursday will shift further offshore as time
progresses. A cold front could approach from the north and northwest
later Friday, then lift north on Saturday. Expect mainly dry
conditions Thursday, with increasing diurnal convection Friday and
Saturday. High temperatures will be a few degrees above normal each
day.

&&

.AVIATION /19Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
KSAV: A cluster of strong to severe thunderstorms will reach
the KSAV terminal by 19Z. The KSAV TAF will feature moderate
thunderstorm at 19Z with a TEMPO from 19-23Z for gusts to 35 kts
and IFR vis. The thunderstorms are forecast to push south and
east of the terminal by early this evening. The challenge
overnight will be the formation of MVFR ceilings, expected to
develop by 3Z at KSAV. The stratus should mix out shortly after
daybreak on Monday with steady NE winds.

KCHS and KJZI: Prior to the 18Z TAFs, a cluster of showers and
thunderstorms was located over KLCO, drifting SW. This activity
will remain close enough to mention VCSH at both terminals
through 21Z. AMDs may become necessary later this afternoon if
the activity tracks over either one of the terminals. By late
this afternoon, convection should drift south of the terminals.
Steady NE winds with ceilings between 040-060 may remain through
the night.

Extended Aviation Outlook: VFR.

&&

.MARINE...
A brief period of gustier southerly winds will impact the
coastal waters early this morning. Surface boundary will move
down through the region as we go through the day and kick off
another round of showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon.
Winds veer northerly behind the front and will be increasing as
we go through tonight.

Monday: A cold front will be shifting offshore early in the
morning. Meanwhile, High pressure centered well to our north will
build down the coast and into our area as time progresses. The
strongest gradient will occur in the morning, with wind gusts just
short of 25 kt possible across much of the waters, and seas 3-5 ft.
The gradient will gradually weaken into the afternoon and overnight,
with seas gradually subsiding as well.

Tuesday and Beyond: NE winds on Tuesday will shift around to the SE
by later Wednesday as High pressure gradually shifts off our coast.
This will lead to a more typical summer wind pattern on Thursday
with the formation of the afternoon sea breeze.

&&

.TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
The combination of rising astronomical tides with the upcoming Full
Moon and moderate NE winds will cause tides to be elevated early
this week. Minor flooding is possible with the evening high tides
Monday and Tuesday, mainly along the South Carolina coast.

&&

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

&&

$$

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