Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Charleston, SC

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242 FXUS62 KCHS 192027 AFDCHS Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Charleston SC 427 PM EDT Sun May 19 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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High pressure will build in from the north tonight and persist through most of this week. A series of upper level disturbances will impact the area next weekend.
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&& .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM MONDAY MORNING/...
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Satellite water vapor indicated the center of a mid-level vorticity maximum over southeast GA, tracking to the SE. A band of strong to severe thunderstorms developed along a cold front earlier this afternoon. This band will continue to slide south developing ahead of the cold front and just north of an outflow boundary, tapping into a unstable environment. CAPE in excess of 2000 J/kg, DCAPE between 600-800 J/kg, and effective bulk shear around 30 kts may continue to support strong to severe thunderstorms across extreme SE GA through the rest of the afternoon. These storms may produce damaging wind gusts and even hail up to the size of Quarters. These storms are timed to slide off the GA coast by early this evening. PW values will remain around 1.6 inches through the rest of this afternoon. The combination of deep instability, adequate atmospheric moisture, and storm motions less than 25 MPH could result in pockets of torrential downpours. The greatest rainfall rates should occur with the passage of strong to severe thunderstorms across SE GA. However, another cluster of showers and thunderstorms has persisted over Charleston County this afternoon, with little to no motion. This area of rainfall should gradually dissipate through the rest of this afternoon. This evening, convection should spread east across the adjacent waters, followed by an area of stratiform rain. The latest runs of the HRRR indicates that the rainfall will become limited to isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms by mid-evening. Conditions should continue to dry through the rest of the night. Rain cooled air should keep temperatures in the 60s and 70s this evening, then cooling into the low to mid 60s late tonight.
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&& .SHORT TERM /6 AM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
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Deep layered ridging will occur Monday through Wednesday, bringing dry weather and warming temperatures. There will be weak cold advection on Monday as the surface high remains to the north. This will keep highs in the lower 80s, except upper 70s near the coast where a decent sea breeze will develop. The surface high will shift off the coast Monday night as the upper ridge continues to build. Increasing thicknesses Tuesday into Wednesday will produce a warming trend with highs in the mid 80s Tuesday and upper 80s Wednesday.
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&& .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...
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Deep layered ridging will continue Wednesday night through Friday, with above normal temperatures continuing. A series of shortwaves will then impact the area late Friday afternoon through early next week, bringing scattered showers and thunderstorms.
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&& .AVIATION /21Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... KSAV: A cluster of strong to severe thunderstorms will reach the KSAV terminal by 19Z. The KSAV TAF will feature moderate thunderstorm at 19Z with a TEMPO from 19-23Z for gusts to 35 kts and IFR vis. The thunderstorms are forecast to push south and east of the terminal by early this evening. The challenge overnight will be the formation of MVFR ceilings, expected to develop by 3Z at KSAV. The stratus should mix out shortly after daybreak on Monday with steady NE winds. KCHS and KJZI: Prior to the 18Z TAFs, a cluster of showers and thunderstorms was located over KLCO, drifting SW. This activity will remain close enough to mention VCSH at both terminals through 21Z. AMDs may become necessary later this afternoon if the activity tracks over either one of the terminals. By late this afternoon, convection should drift south of the terminals. Steady NE winds with ceilings between 040-060 may remain through the night. Extended Aviation Outlook: VFR. && .MARINE...
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Through the rest of the afternoon into early this evening, strong to severe thunderstorms will track across the GA waters. A ridge of high pressure should support strengthening NE winds across the waters tonight. Speeds should range between 10-15 kts with gusts to 20 kts. Seas are forecast to gradually build to 3-4 ft. Monday and Monday night, a decent NE gradient is expected as high pressure remains to the north. A few 25 kt wind gusts are possible in the coastal waters, and seas could briefly reach 6 ft over outer GA waters. The gradient will relax by Tuesday as the surface high moves east and winds turn to the SE. A more typical summer wind pattern will set up for mid to late week with daily sea breezes along the coast.
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&& .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
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The combination of rising astronomical tides with the upcoming Full Moon and moderate NE winds will cause tides to be elevated early this week. Minor flooding is possible with the evening high tides Monday through Wednesday along the South Carolina coast.
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&& .CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. SC...None. MARINE...None. && $$ NEAR TERM...NED SHORT TERM...JRL LONG TERM...JRL AVIATION...JRL/NED MARINE...JRL/NED