Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Columbia, SC

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407 FXUS62 KCAE 280736 AFDCAE Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Columbia SC 336 AM EDT Tue May 28 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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Drier, cooler weather moves in this week behind a front as high pressure builds in from the upper Mississippi Valley. High temperatures should be in the 80s for much of the week and the weekend. Moisture is likely to return this weekend leading to a chance of showers and thunderstorms into early next week.
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&& .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Regional radar showing some scattered convection moving northeastward across the Coastal Plain brushing the eastern Midlands counties while the cold front remains to our west early this morning in the Upstate. The front should continue to push southeastward through sunrise and reach the Coastal Plain by this afternoon. Goes derived total precipitable water shows values at or above 1 inch across the forecast area but values drop off behind the front and the drier air should be moving over the area through the day behind the front as 850mb winds shift more west-northwesterly. Upper trough axis is also to our west currently and will cross the forecast area this afternoon. Hi-res guidance suggests isolated showers or storms may develop in the vicinity of the front over the Coastal Plain during peak heating but most of the activity is expected to be east of our forecast area, though cannot rule out an isolated shower over the eastern Midlands where deeper moisture may be lingering with some instability present, but generally expecting a rain free day. There is not much cool air behind the front initially and deeper mixing should continue to support above normal temperatures with highs expected in the upper 80s to lower 90s. Skies are expected to clear out overnight supporting good radiational cooling, although not ideal as the center of the surface high remains well to the west. Expect overnight lows to be a couple of categories cooler with lows in the lower 60s. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
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Dry, high pressure builds into the area from the northwest on Wednesday. PWAT values from 0.5 to 0.75 inches indicate dry weather and mostly sunny skies. Temperatures will be cooler than the previous few days with the northerly flow drawing cooler air into the region. High temperatures will be in the mid 80s to around 90. Overnight lows will be in the upper 50s to low 60s Wednesday night.
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&& .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
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NW flow persists for much of the work week favoring dry weather and near or slightly below normal temperatures. Mean PWAT values from the Long Range Ensemble Forecast (LREF) are around 0.75 inches through Saturday. With high pressure over the area and dry air in place, rainfall is unlikely through the week and during the day on Saturday. Highs during the week should mainly be in the mid 80s. An upper level trough will swing offshore by the weekend as surface high pressure moves offshore. The transition to a zonal flow pattern and the increasing atmospheric moisture points to increasing shower and thunderstorms chances for late this weekend into early next week. Mean PWAT values from the LREF rise to 1 inch or above late Saturday. The deeper moisture and upper support from shortwaves moving through the zonal flow should allow for a chance of convection from Saturday night through Monday. Increased cloud cover and precip may keep temperatures around normal for the weekend with highs in the mid to upper 80s.
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&& .AVIATION /07Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... Expect VFR conditions through the 24 hr forecast period. Cold front located over the Upstate is expected to move southeastward through the region this morning and reach the Coastal Plain by this afternoon. Southwesterly winds ahead of the front around 5 knots should shift to the west/northwest behind the front and pick up to around 10 knots by late morning with some gusts up to 20 knots through the afternoon with deep mixing expected. Cannot rule out some patchy fog mainly impacting AGS through sunrise if skies clear out and possible brief stratus at OGB ahead of the frontal passage, otherwise VFR conditions expected through the period. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...Restrictions not expected through the end of the week. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...None. GA...None. && $$