Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Columbia, SC

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413 FXUS62 KCAE 160711 AFDCAE Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Columbia SC 311 AM EDT Sun Jun 16 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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A weak front moving through the area stalls to the south of the forecast area today. Thus, expect isolated to scattered thunderstorms to develop this afternoon and evening. High pressure, drier conditions, and slightly above normal temperatures are then expected through much of the upcoming week. Unsettled conditions are possible by late in the week into next weekend.
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&& .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... An upper ridge continues to build over the Southeast today and tonight, allowing for continued warmth across the forecast area. At the surface, a weak cold front is expected to meander through the forecast area, which should keep highs a few degrees cooler than Saturday. A surface high of the Mid-Atlantic coast will allow for onshore flow over our neck of the woods, bringing more moisture into the area. As a result, expect isolated to scattered showers and storms to develop and spread westward through the day. Unlike yesterday, the chances for precipitation cover the entire forecast area. With the ridge settling in overhead, temperatures aloft are expected to be warmer than yesterday. Model soundings also hint at a capping inversion, which will likely limit the severe threat. However, inverted V soundings suggest some gusty winds could accompany any thunderstorms today. Despite the cold front moving through today, temperatures are expected to climb to the lower to mid 90s. Did go with a forecast high on the higher end of the model solution spectrum because of the ridge building overhead and guidance was a few degrees too cool for many locations yesterday. If clouds are more widespread earlier than anticipated, highs today could be a bit cooler than forecast. Overnight lows remain near 70. && .SHORT TERM /MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/...
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Monday and Monday night: The center of the strong upper level ridge will shift just slightly northward, with surface high pressure centered well off the New England coast supporting an onshore low level flow across the area. The deepest moisture appears to shift west of the area, and the combination of lowering precipitable water values and strong subsidence from the upper ridge should preclude the development of any convection across the area. Temperatures will remain a few degrees above normal for highs, generally around 90 or in the lower 90s. Tuesday and Tuesday night: The upper level ridge will become centered over the northern Mid Atlantic region, but the low level onshore flow will persist. Overall, very little change in expected conditions from Monday, with enough subsidence and dry air in place to keep conditions rain-free.
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&& .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
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Ensembles show a very strong upper level ridge over much of New England and the Mid Atlantic during the mid to late week period, with an inverted upper trough retrograding toward the southeast US coast beneath the ridge late in the week. The latest Tropical Weather Outlook and long range ensembles suggest this is an area to continue to monitor for possible tropical development. Overall, onshore flow/increasing moisture could lead to increasingly unsettled conditions across the area with rain chances ramping up Friday into next weekend. Temperatures will be near normal at the start of the long term period, then rise well above normal by the weekend as strong ridging builds back southward across the Carolinas.
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&& .AVIATION /07Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... Generally VFR/MVFR conditions anticipated through the TAF period. Some mid level clouds are being noted over the southern portions of the forecast area, but have generally cleared the terminals. A thin layer of smoke has also been observed at CAE/CUB, but no there have been no vis restrictions. With the rain on Saturday at OGB, some MVFR fog has developed. MVFR fog is also possible at AGS now that skies are clearing out there. Isolated to scattered showers and storms could bring restrictions to the terminals this afternoon and evening, but confidence is too low to include in the TAFs at this point. Light and variable winds become southeast between 5 and 10 kts after 16z-17z and returning to light and variable after about 00z. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...Low probability of significant restrictions. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...None. GA...None. && $$