Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Columbia, SC

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372 FXUS62 KCAE 280101 AFDCAE Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Columbia SC 901 PM EDT Thu Jun 27 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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Hot and humid conditions continue into the weekend. Afternoon and evening rain and storm chances increase through the weekend with noticeably higher moisture building into the region.
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&& .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 8 AM FRIDAY MORNING/...
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KEY MESSAGES: - Lingering showers and isolated thunderstorms diminish this evening. - Muggy tonight with areas of low stratus and/or patchy fog possible towards daybreak. Radar this evening shows lingering showers an isolated thunderstorm or two across the region. This activity will continue to wane and/or move out of the FA during the next few hours leading to a dry but balmy night. Skies are expected to clear out from northwest to southeast though there may be areas of low stratus and/or fog developing towards daybreak, especially in areas that saw rain today. Lows tonight will be in the lower 70s.
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&& .SHORT TERM /8 AM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... KEY MESSAGES: - The heat continues with a significant increase in humidity levels and rainfall chances. Upper level ridging will be gradually building over the region Friday and Saturday as southerly flow continues advecting moisture into the area. Couple of concerns through the short term with the first being the continued heat which will be sightly enhanced by the increasing moisture. Heat index values will be between 100 and 105 each day which will be just below criteria so do not expect any headlines however the increase in moisture will become noticeable. The other concern will be potential for afternoon thunderstorms each day. There will be plenty of instability and with some dry air in the mid levels DCAPE values Friday will be in excess of 700 J/Kg and 500 J/Kg on Saturday. Thunderstorms which become strong and well developed vertically will have the potential to produce strong and gusty winds. With the moisture also creating additional clouds high temperatures each day will be in the low to mid 90s with overnight lows in the low to mid 70s. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... KEY MESSAGES: - Above normal temperatures persist with excessive potential on Sunday. - Slightly cooler temperatures possible to start off the work week. Change will be coming in the long term however Sunday will see a potential for excessive heat and potential headlines. Moisture on Sunday will reach a peak as a frontal boundary moves southward toward the forecast area. This will work to trap moisture across the area and when combined with high temperatures in the mid to upper 90s thunderstorms will become likely during the afternoon and evening. The heat index will be the issue Sunday as values will push to 108 to 113 degrees which will be well into heat advisory and possibly into the excessive heat category (113 or higher for at least two hours or more). Will continue to monitor as this remains several days out. With the front crossing the area Sunday there will also be an upper level trough crossing the region and when combined with the heat there is potential for strong thunderstorms with the main threat being strong and gusty winds. Behind the front slightly cooler temperatures will move into the region with high temperatures returning to near normal for Monday and Tuesday with temperatures returning to the mid 90s to near 100 for Wednesday and Thursday. As for rainfall potential, with the front both approaching Sunday, then stalling out across the southern areas into next week, expect that scattered showers and thunderstorms will remain possible through the long term. Rainfall will be highly variable however all rainfall will be welcome as the dry conditions are beginning to raise fire weather concerns and with the coming holiday the potential for wildfires will be increasing if little rainfall is received. && .AVIATION /01Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
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VFR conditions expected through the TAF period outside of some scattered showers and storms this evening. Some lingering convection is impacting CAE/CUB/OGB at the start of the forecast period so have included a mention of thunder with vsby restrictions through 02z when storms should be diminishing with the loss of instability. Light winds in the boundary layer tonight along with some rain in areas may provide favorable conditions for some fog/stratus. HRRR and MOS guidance suggesting this as well so included cig restrictions in stratus and vsby restrictions in fog beginning around 07z-09z and lasting until around 13z or so. Improvements expected by 14z with winds picking up from the southeast around 5 to 8 knots after 16z. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will again be possible on Friday but timing and coverage remains uncertain so will not include in this forecast. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...Scattered showers-storms with restrictions each afternoon Friday through Sunday as additional moisture moves over the region.
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&& .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...None. GA...None. && $$