Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Columbia, SC

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362 FXUS62 KCAE 201716 AFDCAE Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Columbia SC 116 PM EDT Thu Jun 20 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Dry weather and near normal temperatures will continue through tonight as synoptic situation remains relatively unchanged. Unsettled conditions are possible tomorrow and into the weekend as moisture moves in from the Atlantic. Well above normal temperatures are expected by Sunday into early next week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... With little change in the overall pattern and the surface high remaining in control of the region another day of cumulus with limited vertical development is upon us. The 12z CHS sounding once again showed a strong subsidence inversion and based on current clouds expect the inversion to persist through tonight. This will result in cumulus developing through early this evening then dissipating with the loss of heating. Temperatures across the area are currently in the upper 80s and remain on track for the low 90s at most locations. Easterly winds at 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph will continue through the afternoon then diminish this evening becoming light and variable overnight. With good radiational cooling tonight overnight lows will be in the mid to upper 60s. && .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/...
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Westerly moving wave/low pressure center is forecast to move ashore northern Florida during the day on Friday, pushing westward by the evening hours. Initially, our forecast area will have quite a bit of subsidence north of this feature as we`ll still be stuck underneath the mid and upper level ridge. As a result, the day is initially expected to be dry and warm. By the afternoon hours, however, a surge of PWs is forecast by all guidance, with HREF members generally showing the highest PWs >1.5" approaching the I20 corridor and points southward. This is the area most likely to see rain between 2p and 8p, though it should remain generally scattered in nature. Thunderstorms are possible but generally expecting things to remain sub-severe. I do want to note that the well-performing HRRR has been consistently showing no precip developing but it also is mixing the boundary layer substantially more than its fellow CAMs (even those that have had that bias in the past) so tend to think that is the outlier. Highs will likely end up in the lower 90s, maybe a touch cooler in the coastal plain where clouds are likely to develop earlier in the day. Showers/storms will likely hang around for a bit after sunset, diminishing as the night goes along. Look for lows in the upper 60s. Saturday looks fairly similar, as the plume of higher PWs is expected to fully overspread the forecast area by this point. Given hot temperatures and rich boundary layer moisture, we should see scattered showers/thunderstorms develop across the forecast area again on Saturday. Again, generally expecting these to remain sub-severe but can`t rule out a strong storm here or there. Highs are likely to be in the low to mid 90s, with overnight lows again in the upper 60s or lower 70s.
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&& .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
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Guidance continues to show fairly conflicting signals in terms of heat in the long term. The ridge that has been parked across the OH Valley and Mid Atlantic regions is expected to shift westward and yield troughing as the next work week approaches. The first signs of this are expected by Sunday as heights will begin falling across the Carolinas. Heights should continue to remain at or below 588dm by Monday and Tuesday as the western CONUS ridge builds and persistent troughing looks like it may set up. LREF Members support the operational models in showing, leading to higher confidence than normal in the pattern evolution through early next week. However, the sensible weather that results from this in the forecast is conflicting to say the least. The trough is forecast and expected to yield a surface low into the northeast CONUS by Monday, pushing a weakening cold front towards the FA by Monday afternoon and the overnight hours. PWs will still be near to slightly above normal both Sunday and Monday, with scattered to potentially numerous thunderstorms expected both days given the favorable setup. This conflicts with models also showing high chances at temps in the upper 90s to around 100F for highs by Monday. This is also shown on Tuesday despite the cold front likely stalling near the area. Part of this looks like it could be westerly or northwesterly flow that develops in the base of this trough advecting warm (20-22C) 850 hPa temps across the area Sun-Wed of next week. Given the expectation that daily showers/thunderstorms will be a risk, and lowering 500 hPa heights, it is hard to believe NBM guidance that temps will make it to near 100F any day next week, let alone multiple days. Have capped forecast highs around 98F as that makes conceptual sense given the forecast as it stands right now. Lows will likely be in the 70s given surface moisture in place. Overall, it does look hot but nothing too crazy for June in the southeast. By the middle of next week, things still look to be active with a building western CONUS ridge, so expect daily chances at rain to continue into Wednesday and Thursday.
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&& .AVIATION /17Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... VFR conditions expected through the TAF period. High pressure remains in control of the region with scattered cumulus again across the area. Little will change is expected through tonight which will result in the cumulus dissipating toward sunset with the easterly winds also diminishing. Friday morning the situation will begin changing as a weak tropical wave moves toward the coast of eastern GA and NE FL. This will spread moisture into AGS/DNL/OGB during the morning and CAE/CUB during the early afternoon. Convection will be possible very late in the period however confidence remains too low in timing and coverage to include attm. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...Brief restrictions possible in isolated to scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms Friday and Saturday with increasing chances Sunday through Tuesday. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...None. GA...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS... NEAR TERM... SHORT TERM... LONG TERM... AVIATION...