Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Charleston, SC

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317 FXUS62 KCHS 040734 AFDCHS Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Charleston SC 334 AM EDT Tue Jun 4 2024 .SYNOPSIS... High pressure will extend across the area through Wednesday. A cold front will approach from the northwest on Thursday, then slowly move through on Friday. High pressure returns for the weekend. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
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Today: Aloft, shortwave ridging will slowly shift eastward with a flattening of the flow ahead of an embedded shortwave moving into the Southern Appalachians. At the surface, no change to the pattern with high pressure still centered to the east over the Atlantic driving southerly flow across the forecast area. Precipitable water values will increase through the day, starting off in the 1.4-1.6" range in the morning and rising to around 2" across much of southeast Georgia by sunset. Model soundings are again not particularly impressive, revealing fairly warm mid-level temperatures that are limiting instability. So while the decreased ridging and increased moisture would support more convective activity, we are still lacking the presence of any real triggering or focusing mechanism. Therefore, the forecast still only features isolated to scattered convection mostly impacting inland areas and especially interior southeast Georgia. Model consensus features convection mostly waiting until mid to late afternoon to develop, and that is how the forecast has been timed as well. Concerning the severe weather potential, the overall threat remains low. Soundings suggest CAPE values on the order of 1,000-1,500 J/kg at most, with meager lapse rates and modest DCAPE. Perhaps if a few storms can develop and throw out some outflow boundaries there could be enough boundary interactions to produce a stronger storm. Highs are forecast to be right around 90 away from the immediate coast. Tonight: Early evening convection should mostly favor inland areas and steadily dissipate through the late evening hours. The rest of the overnight is then expected to be dry. Lows are forecast to be in the upper 60s inland and the low 70s along the coast. Though there aren`t any significant fog concerns, some guidance would suggest potential for shallow ground fog across the far interior late in the period.
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&& .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
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A relatively active pattern is anticipated during the period. A weak upper trough will persist with a series of shortwaves rippling through. Fairly deep southerly flow will maintain a moist airmass Wednesday and Thursday with PWATs around 1.85". A sea breeze each afternoon will provide an additional focus for convective development. The greatest convective coverage is expected to be inland. Friday, a cold front sags into the area, with deep westerly flow developing during the day. Compression ahead of the front is expected to produce a warm day with highs in the low to mid 90s. Drier air will move in during the morning. This, combined with mid-level subsidence, should limit convective coverage. However, given the cold front, we kept 20-30% PoPs, highest farther to the south where better moisture will exist.
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&& .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/...
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Although temps will remain fairly warm this weekend, the airmass will noticeably change due to substantially lower dewpoints. This should also limit the potential for convection. An increase in moisture early next week and some shortwave energy will bring a return to scattered diurnal convection.
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&& .AVIATION /08Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... VFR conditions are expected to prevail at KCHS, KJZI, and KSAV through 06z Wednesday. The best chance for afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms looks like it will be near KSAV. However, we still expect that most activity will remain well inland of the terminal and for now have opted to not include any mention of convection. Extended Aviation Outlook: Outside of any convection, conditions will be VFR through the period. && .MARINE...
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Today and tonight: Southerly flow in the morning will turn a bit more southeasterly in the afternoon and evening. Overall, speeds are expected to be in the 10-15 knot range with gust up to around 20 knots possible along the land/sea interface with the development of the afternoon sea breeze. Seas are expected to average 2-3 feet through the period. Wednesday through Sunday: High pressure will remain over the western Atlantic Wednesday through Thursday night, maintaining southerly flow at or below 15 kt, seas at or below 4 ft, and a daily sea breeze circulation along the coast. A cold front will move through on Friday, with winds turning W over the weekend.
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&& .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... Astronomical tides are on the rise this week. Although wind direction is not particularly favorable for surge, we continue to see a positive tidal anomaly of 0.5 to 0.7 ft. The evening high tides Tuesday through Thursday could reach at least 7.0 ft MLLW in Charleston, necessitating Coastal Flood Advisories. && .CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. SC...None. MARINE...None. && $$ NEAR TERM...BSH SHORT TERM...JRL LONG TERM...JRL AVIATION...BSH/JRL MARINE...BSH/JRL