Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Charleston, SC

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972 FXUS62 KCHS 201143 AFDCHS Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Charleston SC 743 AM EDT Mon May 20 2024 .SYNOPSIS... High pressure will persist for most of this week. A series of upper level disturbances should impact our area next weekend. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
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No substantial changes made with the early morning update. Previous discussion... Pronounced short-wave has progressed well out of the Georgia outer waters along with the bulk of the remaining convection, although isolated showers along the western periphery of the circulation continue to rotate down through the coastal waters and skirting the Georgia coast. Quite a bit of lower cloud cover also along the northern and western edge of the wave continues to skirt the coastal areas down through southeast Georgia, but with drier air/clearing skies slowly working in from the north. Short-wave trough axis will move further away from the coast today replaced with sharp upper level ridging and surface high pressure folding into the Atlantic Coast. Today: Per radar trends and high-resolution guidance, spotty shower activity is looking to skirt the southeast Georgia Coast - mainly around Altamaha - through the early morning hours. Thus we plan to hold on to isolated pops down that way for just a bit longer. Cloud cover and the last bit of shower activity will slowly pull away from the southeast coast over the next several hours with drier air and N-S clearing skies taking shape this morning. Forecast soundings do suggest the development of "heating of the day" Cu later in the morning and through the afternoon and could lead to period of partly sunny conditions. Cloud cover has been nudged up accordingly. Otherwise, a cooler and certainly less humid day is on tap. Highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s anticipated...coolest along the coast and around Lake Moultrie. Tonight: Any diurnal cloud cover will fade quickly this evening with mainly clear skies anticipated thereafter. Along with diminishing winds and lower dewpoints, lows will dip into the upper 50s inland to the middle 60s along the coast.
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&& .SHORT TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... Tuesday: A positively tilted mid-level trough will be just off the Southeast U.S. coast in the morning. It will transition into a cut- off Low in the evening and overnight. Meanwhile, a ridge will strengthen over the Southeast U.S. during the day and at night. Broad High pressure centered to our north in the morning will shift off the Mid-Atlantic Coast as the day progresses. Though, it`s southern periphery will continue to be the dominant synoptic feature for our weather during the day and into the night. Subsidence will yield dry conditions with mostly sunny/clear skies. High temperatures should be in the mid 80s, except cooler at the beaches. Lows should range from the upper 50s far inland to the mid 60s closer to the coast. Wednesday: The mid-levels will consist of a cut-off Low meandering off the Southeast coast, while a ridge prevails over the Southeast U.S. At the surface, High pressure along the Southeast coast in the morning will shift offshore into the afternoon. A front will slowly approach from the north and northwest during the evening and overnight. Though, it won`t make it near our area as the periphery of the High remains the dominant synoptic feature. Ongoing low and mid-level subsidence will continue to bring our area dry conditions with mostly sunny/clear skies. Expect an inland moving sea breeze during the afternoon. Highs will peak in the upper 80s, except cooler at the beaches. Lows should range from the lower 60s far inland to the lower 70s along the immediate coast. Thursday: A mid-level ridge over the Southeast U.S. in the morning will weaken as the day progresses. Surface High pressure just off the Southeast coast in the morning will move further offshore as the day progresses. The front to our north and northwest will continue to approach. However, it won`t make it to our area. This periphery of the High will bring yet another day with dry conditions. Expect fair weather cumulus in the afternoon along with a sea breeze. High temperatures should be in the upper 80s to lower 90s, except cooler at the beaches. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/... Expect west southwest mid-level flow over our region Thursday night. A weak trough may pass to our north Friday night into Saturday, possibly followed by weak ridging on Sunday. Surface High pressure in the western Atlantic Thursday night will shift further offshore into the weekend. A cold front could approach from the north and northwest later Friday, then lift north on Saturday. Expect some diurnal convection on Friday, with convection more likely during the weekend. High temperatures will be a few degrees above normal each day. && .AVIATION /12Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
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KCHS/KJZI/KSAV: VFR conditions will persist through today but with SCT to perhaps BKN "heating of the day" Cumulus developing late morning and persisting through the afternoon. A touch of gustiness is anticipated later this morning and through the afternoon with gusts 15 to 20 knots possible. Turning clear this evening with diminishing winds. Extended Aviation Outlook: VFR.
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&& .MARINE... Surface high pressure will be building along the Atlantic coast through today. The resulting tighter pressure gradient across the coastal waters will continue to produce gustier northeasterly winds today and tonight. Gusts of 20 to 25 knots will be common today with seas building to 3 to 5 feet in the nearshore waters and 4 to 6 feet in the outer Georgia waters. We have hoisted a Small Craft Advisory for the outer Georgia waters for today through early evening. It`s a bit more marginal across the nearshore waters with no headline planned at this time. But we will continue to monitor conditions for possible expansion of the SCA as we go through the day. Extended Marine: NE winds on Tuesday will shift around to the SE by later Wednesday as High pressure gradually shifts off our coast. This will lead to a more typical summer wind pattern beginning on Thursday. That`s when mariners should expect backing winds during the day, along with stronger wind gusts along the land/sea interface with the formation of the afternoon breeze. At night, winds should veer as low level jetting sets up along the coast. && .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... The combination of rising astronomical tides with the upcoming Full Moon and moderate NE winds will cause tides to be elevated through the middle of this week. Minor flooding is possible with the evening high tides tonight through Wednesday along the South Carolina coast. && .CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
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GA...None. SC...None. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 6 PM EDT this evening for AMZ350. Small Craft Advisory until 9 PM EDT this evening for AMZ374.
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