Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Greer, SC

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006 FXUS62 KGSP 270700 AFDGSP Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 300 AM EDT Mon May 27 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Strong to severe thunderstorms early this morning with another round possible Monday afternoon with a cold front. Cooler and drier conditions return Tuesday through Saturday. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
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As of 244 AM EDT Monday: As we await the arrival of the line of thunderstorms coming off the Cumberland Plateau at 230 AM, some renewed shower activity was noted over the NW Piedmont where some residual lift was present, and over the SW upslope areas. Will update the precip probs to account for this. Speaking of the upstream convection, the current movement of the line would have it reaching the NC/TN border right around 08Z. However, the line is broken and is more parallel to the shear vector than the part of the line in eastern KY, which suggests less of a threat for widespread wind damage. It might actually be the rogue thunderstorms ahead of the line in northern AL that could be more of a problem if they get incorporated into the line and then reach southwest NC. As for warnings, we will begin by taking our cues from the MRX office and then go from there. Still no inkling of impending weather watches, but that can change quickly. Available buoyancy is the main limiting factor across the NC mountains, with maybe 1000-1500 J/kg of most-unstable CAPE and maybe 500-1000 J/kg of sfc-based CAPE that was limited to the southern mountains. This is all to say the trend is toward the underwhelming, but let`s not let our guard down until the line actually hits the mtns and falls apart in its attempt to cross the divide. Precip probs were adjusted accordingly. For today, the plan remains to gradually diminish the remnant of the QLCS east of the mtns after daybreak, with the best thunder chances and higher precip probs over northeast GA and the Savannah R basin, where the deeper convection can reach without crossing the mtns. In the wake of the QLCS remnants, expect widespread debris cloudiness and lingering light rain. Indications are that the precip and clouds will break up early enough in the day to allow some air mass recovery. The RAP still shows muCAPE climbing back up to the 2500-3000 J/kg range in the late afternoon, along with 30-35 kt of deep layer/cloud layer shear. If that is indeed the case, then scattered thunderstorms could develop mainly east of the mtns, and pose a risk of damaging wind gusts and large hail. Coverage on the CAMs is relatively widely scattered, but a few severe storms will not be ruled out. Temps will top out maybe a few deg above normal assuming the clouds break early enough in the day. The deep convection should move off to the east by mid-evening or so. For tonight, we should have more quiet weather. Can`t rule out a few showers in the westerly upslope areas along the TN border. Drying aloft suggests some fog potential, also assuming some locations get the rain late in the day. Low temps should cool off a bit, but still above normal.
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&& .SHORT TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/... As of 150 AM Monday: Kicking off a quieter stretch Tuesday as the surface cold front heads out to sea and drier air filters in behind. The upper low continues to lift toward the NE. Meanwhile, an omega blocking pattern emerges over the CONUS and keeps trough toward the north of the CWA. The pressure gradient is not anticipated to be tight, so some low-end wind gusts possible across the higher elevations through the end of the period. Guidance from the GFS and Euro does suggest a stray shower across the far northern NC mountains Tuesday afternoon, but models have also been trending drier over the past few forecast cycles. So confidence is very low. Upper flow should start to turn more NW by Wednesday night as the ridge axis over the central plains moves eastward. Will keep non- zero PoPs at this point. Temps will be warmest Tuesday during the short term and decrease closer to climo by Wednesday. Overnight temps will also be on the decline Wednesday night as drier air continues to move in and drop dewpoints. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 155 AM Sunday: By Thursday, a semi-strong omega blocking pattern continues over the CONUS, leaving the CWA in a weakening NW flow regime. Thursday and Friday will remain dry as heights begin to rise gradually as the ridge axis out west approaches the area. By Saturday, the axis will be over the CWA and also dry. Guidance does start to diverge on the next potential chance for showers. The Euro develops a weak upper low and trough that approaches the area by Sunday. However, the GFS keeps this weakened low from really forming and prevents any rainfall from reaching the CWA through the end of the forecast period. Either way, there`s very little confidence in this as we start to transition into a more summer like pattern. So for now, consider the extended forecast dry and warm. Temperatures should remain close to climo. && .AVIATION /07Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... At KCLT and elsewhere: Dealing with a few showers over the NW Piedmont of NC, otherwise we are in the lull before the next line of storms arrives from the west. There could be some brief fog restrictions at any of the terminals prior to the arrival of the line, but VFR should prevail with light/var wind. The guidance is fairly consistent in bringing a line of strong/severe storms up to the TN border around 09Z. Confidence is highest with KAVL thunder probs this morning, but east of the mtns the situation is much less certain, as a few of the CAMs show this really struggling to make it east of the Blue Ridge. The line appears to be organized well enough that discretion suggests keeping a TEMPO for all terminals for now, until we are more certain that the line will actually diminish and dissipate, which should happen in the mid/late morning at any rate during the diurnal minimum. Wind should be SW. This afternoon is also uncertain, but several of the CAMs still develop scattered storms after sufficient air mass recovery happens. Will include a PROB30 at most terminals to account for this. By nightfall, the convection should be to the east. The passage of the front is expected to happen in the late evening or early morning Tuesday, bringing a shift to the NW. It remains to be seen how much fog we get around daybreak Tuesday, but the guidance is keen on fog development. Outlook: Drier weather is expected by midweek with VFR conditions. && .GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. NC...None. SC...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...CP NEAR TERM...PM SHORT TERM...CP LONG TERM...CP AVIATION...PM