Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Columbia, SC

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540 FXUS62 KCAE 271839 AFDCAE Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Columbia SC 239 PM EDT Mon May 27 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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A cold front will move through the area tonight and some scattered strong-severe thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening, mainly south of I-20. More seasonable temperatures and drier conditions are expected behind the front through late week as high pressure area builds in from the upper Mississippi Valley.
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&& .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
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Most of our area remains weakly capped as of 18z behind this morning`s MCS passage, with an approaching trough aloft and associated surface front heading in from the northwest. The focus for convection is currently southwest of our area along the draped boundary from that earlier MCS, but enough clearing could allow some sufficient destabilization across the CSRA and Midlands over the next few hours, especially with the forcing from the approaching surface front. Confidence is relatively low however in how far north any convection will develop given that the HRRR and the other HREF members are consistent in developing the vast majority of heavy convection south and east of I-20; a severe thunderstorm watch is up for our extreme southern tier of counties. ML CAPE across the HREF members should climb above 2000 j/kg by this evening for much of the area and enough mid- level flow will allow for 0-6km shear over 30 knots; combined with the dry air aloft and modest inverted V sounding, large hail up to half dollar sized and damaging winds are the primary threats, primarily south and east of I-20. Convection should simmer down shortly after 01z across the area and winds will shift out of the northwest late this evening as the front pushes through.
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&& .SHORT TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
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Upper level trough will be over the eastern US through the short term with high pressure and drier air building in behind the front. By late afternoon pwat values are expected to fall under 1 inch and mid level lapse rates will be 6.0 C/Km or less. Surface and low level winds will also be westerly to northwesterly which will lend some downsloping to the drying as well. Little change is expected on Wednesday as high pressure continues to build into the area from the northwest and with the northerly flow continuing slightly cooler air will also persist over the region. High temperatures Tuesday will be in the upper 80s to low 90s and on Wednesday the mid 80s to around 90. Overnight lows will be in the low to mid 60s Tuesday night and the upper 50s to low 60s Wednesday night.
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&& .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
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Highly amplified upper level pattern will be slow to change through Friday then become more zonal for the weekend. The upper level trough will gradually dig into the eastern US Thursday and early Friday with the axis finally swinging offshore early Friday afternoon. By Saturday the upper ridge which had been building into the Great Lakes region will begin to get suppressed by troughing moving into it resulting in more zonal flow by Sunday. At the surface high pressure will be ridging into the forecast area Thursday with the center overtaking the mid Atlantic States on Saturday then sliding eastward into the Atlantic Basin Sunday. This will keep drier air over the region through Friday with moisture slowly returning to the region over the weekend with slight chance of convection in the CSRA Saturday and the entire forecast area Sunday. With the trough over the eastern US temperatures will be slightly below normal.
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&& .AVIATION /19Z MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
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Thunderstorms possible at AGS, DNL, and OGB this afternoon and evening. VFR conditions expected otherwise through the TAF period. Convection is developing across central GA along a outflow boundary from this morning`s convection. This will likely slide slightly north and will get fairly close to the AGS, DNL, and OGB terminals. Confidence is still somewhat low however, so only included a VCTS mention at those sites for now from 21z through 01z. Otherwise gusty winds will continue this afternoon out of the southwest, to around 25 knots. Convection will subside after 01z and winds will turn out of the northwest late this evening, but will weaken after sunset. Some patchy fog is possible early overnight before drier can mix but again confidence is too low in specifics for a TAF mention. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...Restrictions not expected through the end of the week following Monday`s system.
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&& .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...None. GA...None. && $$