Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Columbia, SC

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769 FXUS62 KCAE 240927 CCA AFDCAE Area Forecast Discussion...CORRECTED National Weather Service Columbia SC 527 AM EDT Mon Jun 24 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Above normal temperatures are expected to continue for the next several days. Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms should occur each afternoon and evening, with better rain chances likely toward the end of the work week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... KEY MESSAGES: -Max heat indices around 105F today. -Scattered afternoon storms in eastern area. Marginal risk for severe weather with damaging wind gusts primary threat. Early this morning, showers continue to move into the Upstate associated with a prefrontal surface trough. While HiRes models indicate these showers will weaken as they approach the forecast area, some light showers will be possible this morning. The surface trough will push through the area this morning with winds shifting from SW ahead of it to NW behind it. These NW winds, along with models indicating some slightly warmer temperatures at 850mb indicate favorable conditions for downslope flow across the area. This will lead to warmer temperatures, with highs approaching 100F across much of the area. Dew points will likely mix out, however, especially in the NW portion of the forecast area which will lead to similar heat indices to yesterday, around 100F in the NW to around 105F in southeast, where dew points will likely be higher. This remains just below heat advisory criteria which is heat index greater than 108F. Afternoon storm development is expected near the trough with surface convergence providing forcing in a moderate to potentially strongly unstable airmass. Deep layer shear still remains fairly weak, generally 20 knots or less. With strong low level lapse rates and forecast soundings showing some dry air aloft and an inverted-V, stronger storms could produce a damaging wind gust. A marginal risk remains in place in the far southeastern portion of the forecast area. With a loss of daytime heating tonight, chances for rain will continue to decrease overnight. Lows will be in the low to mid 70s. && .SHORT TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/... KEY MESSAGES: -Hot conditions continue. Max heat indices 100-105, slightly drier conditions in the north Midlands. -Widely scattered to scattered afternoon thunderstorms mainly in the southeast Midlands. Upper level ridge building again as long wave trough axis off the coast. Deep moisture will shift east of the area. A weak frontal boundary will be across near the southeast Midlands in the afternoon. Drier air is expected to advect into the SC Piedmont and north Midlands where precipitable water is expected around 1.00 inch. In the east, precipitable water above 1.5-1.8 inch or a little higher. Temperatures will rise into the upper 90s during the afternoon with relatively strong subsidence over much of the area. Weaker capping in the east at least early in the afternoon. The air mass remains dry above 3km which should limit convective coverage overall. The CAM models are suggesting scattered thunderstorms will focus near the frontal boundary/trough in the southeast Midlands and coastal Plain. Low level convergence will be the main forcing for convection, possibly enhanced by the sea breeze. Showers will be more limited into the central Midlands. Overall, expect the heat index range from 100-105 across the region. Overnight lows continue to range in the low to mid 70s. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
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KEY MESSAGES: -Hot conditions continue. Max heat indices up to 107. -Widely scattered to scattered afternoon thunderstorms each day. An upper level trough will move from the Mississippi Valley into the Carolinas and Georgia by Thursday. The diffuse boundary/front remains near the region Wednesday so continued threat of scattered afternoon thunderstorms mainly in the southeast Midlands/CSRA. Lower pops west. There may be stronger dynamics for thunderstorms Thursday afternoon as the GFS/ECMWF show short wave trough moving through the area. Weak front/boundary near the area. Overall shear not that strong. But soundings show weaker capping, moderate instability and more pronounced inverted V, suggesting wind threat. NBM pops suggesting scattered thunderstorms. With higher chance rain, temps a tad cooler. The ensembles continue to show the strong upper ridge building into the area over the weekend and remaining through early next week. Relatively high confidence for continued hot temperatures, above normal, upper 90s to near 100 degrees. Lower confidence on convective coverage. The NBM suggests scattered coverage at most and mainly diurnally driven.
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&& .AVIATION /10Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... VFR conditions expected through the TAF period. Showers moving through the southern Appalachians associated with a surface trough approaching the area are expected to weaken as they approach the terminals with leading to scattered clouds below 10kft and maybe an isolated shower. Isolated showers and storms will be possible this afternoon, mainly at OGB but confidence is too low to include in TAF. Winds will shift from the SW to W most of today with some gusts between 15-20kts this afternoon. Winds shift out of the N tonight. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...Increasing chances for afternoon scattered showers and thunderstorms and associated restrictions Tuesday through Friday. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...None. GA...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS... NEAR TERM... SHORT TERM... LONG TERM... AVIATION...