Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Charleston, SC

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275 FXUS62 KCHS 271345 AFDCHS Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Charleston SC 945 AM EDT Thu Jun 27 2024 .SYNOPSIS... High pressure will remain over the western Atlantic while weak fronts linger near the area through the end of the week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
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Mid-Morning Update: Some lingering low stratus continues to linger across far interior southeast GA. It remains unclear how long these lower ceilings will be able to persist, however with the strong summertime sun angle ceilings should rise within the next few hours. Otherwise, the forecast is on track and no major changes were made. Overnight composite analysis reveals larger scale northern stream troughing through the Great Lakes into New England. Trailing positive tilt short-wave trough axis is advancing through the Appalachians with a couple of convectively induced vorticity centers (MCVs) noted along the trough axis, one moving into Alabama and second across eastern Tennessee. Surface boundary oriented along and ahead of the upper trough cuts across the western Carolinas into central Georgia. Quiet weather across our immediate region, with the most active weather currently ongoing from the mid Atlantic into New England. Advancing upper trough axis moving through New England into the mid Atlantic will help drive the surface cold front deeper into the southeast region today. That, in tandem with modestly increasing QG-forcing for ascent, local sea breeze interactions and perhaps some support from the remnant MCV eventually moving into Georgia should drive a better coverage of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon into the evening, with convection kicking off largely after 2 pm. Early morning forecast will advertise scattered-numerous precip chances with the best coverage anticipated late afternoon through the early evening timeframe. A further increase in rain chances may eventually be needed once convective evolution becomes clear. Severe weather parameters/possibilities: Forecast instability is sufficient although not super impressive, owing to subtle mid level warming that develops this afternoon into this evening (1-2 J/Kg MLCAPE off the coast and a bit higher in a narrow corridor along the coast where boundary layer moisture is greatest). Antecedent larger scale 0-6 Km shear values are unimpressive for organized severe storms, 20 knots or less but strongest in the tri-county region and points north. That said, there may be some localized enhanced low level shear values to tap along the coast (or in the vcnty of any local boundaries) with locally backed and increased low level flow and coincident with where the better instability will be found. In fact, high- res guidance does forecast 1 to 2 units of positive Supercell Composite Parameter along the coast as a result of the stronger backed flow/instability. Upshot, while a well organized severe weather threat does not appear likely, given some favorable parameters, a few strong to severe storms producing damaging winds will be possible across the forecast area as depicted in the latest SPC Day One outlook, with the higher threat perhaps across the SC counties and along the coast. Otherwise, a slight cool down in thermal profiles is anticipated (H8 temps dipping off around 2C cooler compared to Wednesday) along with increasing convection/cloud cover during the afternoon. That should result in slightly "cooler" max temps today...93-98F across the forecast area and cooler right along the coast. But with the envelope of enhanced surface dewpoints still situated along the coastal corridor, still getting heat index values running 107-110F before arrival of convection and basically along and east of the I-95 corridor to the Savannah River. A bit more on the fence regarding heat advisory headlines. But upon collaboration with surrounding WFO`s, a Heat Advisory has been issued for the above mentioned areas. Tonight: Upper level troughiness lingers through the night and it`s unclear if the surface boundary actually pushes through or simply stalls/washes out across the region. As mentioned above, convection is looking to linger through the evening hours, moving off the coast and diminishing late evening and overnight. Overnight lows should dip into the middle 70s most areas (73-78F), warmer along the coast of course, with some fog possible particularly in areas that do receive decent rainfall.
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&& .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... Friday: The mid-levels should consist of a shortwave hovering over our region in the morning. It is expected to dissipate into the afternoon. Weak High pressure is forecasted to form over the Southeast during the evening and overnight. At the surface, a stationary front should be spread across our far inland counties in the morning. It`s expected quickly lift north as a warm front into the afternoon, becoming located well north of our area by the evening hours and overnight hours. Deep moisture will persist across the region. PWATs should stay ~2.25", which is above the 90% mark for CHS per SPC Sounding Climatology. The heat won`t be as intense, with highs expected to reach the lower to mid 90s across most of our area, except cooler at the beaches. Dew points well into the 70s near the coast will cause heat indices to rise as high as 105-108 degrees, which is borderline for Heat Advisories. If any are issued, they would be most likely for our coastal counties. Forcing from the remnant shortwave, departing front, and the afternoon sea breeze will generate convection. The synoptic models and long range CAMs are in good agreement, indicating scattered to numerous coverage. We`ll note that the NBM was an outlier, having POPs up to 80%. This seemed way too high, so we capped them at 50%, which is still decent. There doesn`t appear to be as much instability as previous days. MLCAPEs may struggle to reach 1,000 J/kg across portions of our area. Even DCAPEs may only be a few hundred J/kg with weak shear. So a strong storm with gusty winds is possible just about anywhere, but marginally severe storms appear less likely with this setup. There will also be the potential for locally heavy rainfall underneath the thunderstorms due to very weak steering flow and the potential for training. Convection should gradually decrease during the evening and overnight. But it`s most likely to persist closer to the coast overnight. Lows will be in the 70s. Saturday: Weak mid-level High pressure initially over the Southeast U.S. will strengthen and build westward as time progresses. It`s eastern periphery will be over our region overnight. Surface High pressure will be in the western Atlantic. Meanwhile, weak troughing is expected to develop over the Southeast U.S. later in the day, then persist into the night. Deep moisture will prevail across the region. PWATs should stay ~2.25", which is well above normal. Similar to Friday, high temperatures are expected to reach well into the 90s for most areas. Dew points well into the 70s near the coast will cause heat indices to rise as high as 108-110 degrees, which would prompt Heat Advisories, most likely for our coastal counties. Models point to another round of scattered to numerous convective coverage, especially in the afternoon. Once again, the NBM was the high outlier, so we went below it and kept chance POPs. Instability and DCAPEs are similar to Friday. So again, a strong storm with gusty winds is possible just about anywhere, but marginally severe storms appear less likely with this setup. There will also be the potential for locally heavy rainfall underneath the thunderstorms due to very weak steering flow. Convection should gradually decrease during the evening and overnight. But it`s most likely to persist closer to the coast overnight. Lows will be in the 70s. Sunday: The mid-levels will consist of strong High pressure over the Southern Plains, with its eastern periphery reaching into our region. At the surface, High pressure will be in the western Atlantic, while weak troughing prevails over the Southeast U.S. Deep moisture will continue to persist across the region. Similar to the previous two days, high temperatures are expected to reach well into the 90s for most areas. Dew points well into the 70s closer to the coast will cause heat indices to rise as high as 112 degrees, which would prompt Heat Advisories. Instability from the afternoon heat and humidity will generate scattered to numerous convective coverage along the sea breeze as it moves inland during the afternoon. Strong or marginally severe storms are possible along with locally heavy rainfall. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Weak fronts or surface troughing will continue to impacting the Southeast U.S., while High pressure is located in the western Atlantic. This will lead to diurnal convection with the highest POPs each afternoon and evening, then trending lower overnight. High temperatures will be well into the 90s each day and drop into the 70s each night. Additionally, heat indices could approach 108 degrees along the coast on Monday. && .AVIATION /14Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... KCHS/KJZI/KSAV: Some low stratus has developed early this morning and will bring a short period of IFR conditions to the KSAV terminal. Satellite trends some of the low clouds is trying to sneak northward toward the KCHS/KJZI terminals as well. But VFR conditions should return by mid to late morning and prevail through early afternoon. Precipitation chances appear likely during this afternoon after around 19Z with the possibility of TSRA impacting all terminals between 21Z and 04Z Friday. Periodic flight restrictions are possible in heavier showers and thunderstorms through the time. Precip ends late evening. But lingering lower cloud cover and some vsby restrictions are possible late evening and overnight. Extended Aviation Outlook: Mostly VFR. However, convection could bring brief flight restrictions, mainly each afternoon and evening. && .MARINE... Stout south to southwesterly flow (gusts to around 20 knots) lingers in the coastal waters through early morning but should weaken some as we go through the morning hours. Showers and thunderstorms are likely to impact the coastal waters late this afternoon through this evening with briefly higher winds and waves expected. Seas 2 to 4 feet this morning subside slightly to 2 to 3 feet. Extended Marine: A typical summertime pattern is expected with High pressure in the western Atlantic and occasional surface troughing or fronts over the Southeast. Each day, expect gradually backing winds. They`ll be strongest along the land/sea interface and across the Charleston Harbor with the formation of the afternoon sea breeze. Each night, winds will gradually veer, possibly surging closer to the coast. Seas will be 2-4 ft. Rip Currents: A lingering 2 ft, 9 second swell coupled with some astronomical influences and typical sea breeze enhancements along the beaches support a moderate risk for rip currents for all beaches today and Friday. && .CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
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GA...None. SC...Heat Advisory until 6 PM EDT this evening for SCZ044-045- 048>052. MARINE...None.
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&& $$ NEAR TERM...Adam/CPM SHORT TERM... LONG TERM... AVIATION...Adam MARINE...Adam