Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Charleston, SC

Current Version |  Previous Version |  Graphics & Text |  Print | Product List |  Glossary On
Versions: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
-- Remove Highlighting --
-- Discussion containing changed information from previous version are highlighted. --
040 FXUS62 KCHS 140602 AFDCHS Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Charleston SC 202 AM EDT Fri Jun 14 2024 .SYNOPSIS... A stationary front will meander near or just off the coast through the end of the week. A weak cold front will drop into the forecast area early this weekend before high pressure spreads in from the north. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM THIS MORNING/...
-- Changed Discussion --
The forecast remains on track tonight. The forecast update will feature less cloud cover, dry conditions over land, and isolated showers over the marine zones.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .SHORT TERM /6 AM THIS MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY/... Friday: The mid-levels will initially consist of a weak trough stretching from off the Southeast Coast into the eastern Gulf of Mexico. As time progresses, this trough will shift further offshore, then lift to the northeast. At the surface, a stationary front will be just off our coast in the morning, gradually shifting further away into the evening and overnight. Additionally, a dry cold front will approach from the northwest late at night. Though, it`s not expected to reach our area. The highest PWATs should remain offshore during the day, with drier air likely over a large portion of our area. The synoptic models have trended drier, pointing to isolated to maybe scattered convection across GA. This is also in line with the CAMs. So we kept slight chance POPs along our GA coastline during the afternoon, and low POPs across our SC coastline. Soundings indicate limited instability, so probabilities are higher for showers as opposed to thunderstorms. Anything that does develop will dissipate in the evening, with the overnight being dry. Highs will peak in the lower to mid 90s for most areas, except cooler at the beaches. Lows will be in the lower to mid 70s. Saturday: A mid-level trough offshore will continue to move away while ridging gradually builds over the Southeast. A weak cold front will be located just to our north at daybreak. It`s expected to slowly shift south during the day and weaken, likely stalling around the Savannah River during the evening and overnight. Moisture increases around the front, with PWATs possibly rising to 1.75 by late afternoon. The combination of the increasing moisture, lift from the front, and a somewhat robust afternoon sea breeze could generate isolated to maybe scattered convection in the afternoon. This will be highly dependent on how much mid-level dry air is in place. We have slight chance POPs, but these may need to be raised. Any remaining convection should shift towards the coast during the evening, then remain along the immediate coast overnight. Highs will be in the mid to upper 90s for most areas, except cooler at the beaches. Lows will be in the lower to mid 70s. Sunday: The mid-levels will consist of High pressure mainly over the Southeast. At the surface, a stationary front should be located over our GA counties in the morning. It`s expected to shift south and dissipate in the afternoon as High pressure to our north and northeast tries to build into our area. There should be enough moisture and lift near the front to generate scattered convection, so we have chance POPs across most our our area, with lower POPs generally across the Charleston Tri- County. Though, the dry air moving in from the north will determine how much convection is able to develop or not develop. Highs will again reach into the low to mid 90s away from the immediate coast. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... Anticyclonic flow aloft, mainly across the Southeastern U.S., will prevail through early next week. Surface high pressure located along the New England coast will advect modestly dry air into the area despite the onshore flow, although some Atlantic moisture could move in far south into Southeast Georgia. The forecast features isolated showers in the afternoon/evening each day through early next week. Thunderstorms chances look slim at this juncture with little instability to work with and little to no forcing with a fairly strong capping inversion in place. Convection chances could increase if additional moisture advection occurs, which for this time of year, is pretty easy to have happen. Temperatures should sit around normal or slightly above normal due to increased insolation. && .AVIATION /06Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
-- Changed Discussion --
6Z TAFs: Low pressure over the western Atlantic will track to the northeast this morning. As the low departs, a drier air mass will be drawn across the forecast area with NE winds. Conditions across the terminals should remain VFR through the TAF period. A sea breeze is timed to develop this afternoon, reaching KJZI by 18z and KCHS and KSAV between 20-21Z. In the wake of the sea breeze, winds should shift from the SE around 10 kts. Winds should settle from the SE this evening, decreasing to around 5 kts. Extended Aviation Outlook: Mainly VFR. There will be low probabilities of brief flight restrictions due to afternoon/evening showers/tstms.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .MARINE...
-- Changed Discussion --
Tonight: Winds are finally showing signs of diminishing a bit this morning as the pressure gradient begins to relax. Winds have dropped below 20 kt or less. Friday through Tuesday: A stationary front will be just off our coast Friday morning, gradually shifting further away into the evening and Friday night. Additionally, a dry cold front will approach from the northwest late Friday night. The cold front is expected to slowly shift south Saturday and weaken, likely stalling around the Savannah River during the evening and Saturday night. The front is expected to shift south and dissipate Sunday afternoon as High pressure to our north and northeast tries to build into our area. Wind speeds will average 10-15 kt with seas 2-4 ft. Rip Currents: Gusty NE winds in the morning will become onshore in the afternoon Friday. Additionally, a SE swell around 2 ft near 7 seconds should impact the beaches along with a potentially moderate to strong longshore current. This could lead to rip currents. Hence, there is a Moderate Risk for the GA beaches, especially Tybee Island.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
-- Changed Discussion --
GA...None. SC...None. MARINE...None.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& $$ NEAR TERM...NED SHORT TERM... LONG TERM... AVIATION...NED MARINE...