Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Charleston, SC

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404 FXUS62 KCHS 202154 AFDCHS Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Charleston SC 554 PM EDT Fri Sep 20 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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High pressure will strengthen across the region through early next week. A weak cold front may approach from the west around the middle of next week.
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&& .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SATURDAY MORNING/...
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No major changes were made for the early evening update. Isolated showers along parts of the Georgia coastal counties will quickly wane after sunset. GOES-E water vapor and latest SPC mesoscale analysis indicated a mid- level vort max along the SC coast, tracking south between a trough over the western Atlantic and a ridge over the Ohio River Valley. At the sfc, visible satellite, sfc wind observations, and KCLX radar indicated that a weak sea breeze was developing over the coastal counties of SC/GA, drifting slowly inland. CAPE analysis indicated the MLCAPE will likely remain between 1000-1500 J/kg along and west of the sea breeze into early this evening, with little to no CIN. Recent runs of the HRRR indicate that isolated showers may develop on the sea breeze across the coastal counties of SE GA. The forecast will feature SCHC for showers. Any convection that does develop should dissipate by sunset. Tonight, H5 heights should gradually rise as a ridge pivots south of around the high centered over TX. At the sfc, high pressure should gradually build across the forecast area, rising by 4 to 5 mbs overnight. The building high should support northeast winds between 3-5 mph, especially near the coast. The wind should aid in limiting the potential for fog formation late tonight. However, winds could become very light to calm for a couple hours across the far inland counties. The forecast will feature a mention of patchy fog across the inland counties. Low temperatures are forecast to range from the mid to upper 60s inland to around 70 along the coast.
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&& .SHORT TERM /6 AM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY/...
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The mid-levels will consist of a trough just off the East Coast Saturday morning and ridging over the central U.S., with embedded high pressure over TX. By Monday, the trough will have shifted further offshore, pushed by the ridge that will have moved over the East Coast. Additionally, the embedded High should be over the FL Panhandle. At the surface, High pressure will remain over the Southeast U.S. Subsidence associated with the High is expected to bring mainly dry weather during the short term. We will note that most of the synoptic models are completely dry on Saturday. Though, the long-range CAMs are split between it being completely dry and some members showing light showers along the GA coast. PWATs are around 1.5", but many model soundings show decent dry air in place. So we opted to go with 10% POPs in these locations Saturday afternoon. If anything does manage to form, it will be isolated, brief, light, and may just be sprinkles. Saturday evening through Monday are completely dry. Temperatures will trend higher due to approaching ridge. Highs will be in the mid to upper 80s Saturday, and the upper 80s to around 90 degrees on Sunday and Monday. Though, it will be cooler at the beaches. Lows Saturday will be in the mid to upper 60s for most locations. Sunday night they`ll be in the upper 60s inland to the lower 70s along the immediate coast.
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&& .LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
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Surface high pressure will initially be over our region, then shift offshore mid to late next week. A cold front should approach from the northwest on Friday. This synoptic pattern will yield dry conditions through Wednesday, with increased POPs Thursday and Friday. High temperatures should be at or slightly above normal Tuesday and Wednesday, trending lower Thursday and Friday.
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&& .AVIATION /22Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
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21/00z TAF Discussion: KCHS/KJZI/KSAV: VFR through 22/00z. Extended Aviation Outlook: There are no concerns.
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&& .MARINE...
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Tonight: High pressure will increase across the marine zones tonight. Winds across the nearshore and outer waters will remain from the ENE around 10 kts this evening, increasing to 10-15 kts late tonight. Seas should range between 2 to 4 ft. Saturday: The interaction between High pressure inland and a weak trough south of FL will yield sustained NE winds 10-15 kt during the day. Winds will ease during the evening and overnight. Seas will average 2-4 ft during the day with some 5 footers in the GA waters from 20-60 nm. Seas should drop about 1 foot during the evening and overnight. Sunday through midweek: High pressure will prevail inland, then begin to move offshore midweek. Expect sustained winds to be mainly 10 kt or less. Seas will average 2-3 ft within 20 nm and 3-4 ft for the GA waters from 20-60 nm.
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&& .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
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The astronomical high tide at the Charleston Harbor high tide is 6.19 ft MLLW at 1044 PM. Winds along the coast are forecast to remain from the ENE through the high tide cycle. The winds should support tidal departures around 0.9 ft MLLW. A Coastal Flood Advisory has been posted from 9 PM until midnight for minor flooding, 7.1 ft MLLW. Positive tidal anomalies and high astronomical tides from the recent full moon will lead to elevated tides through the weekend. Although the astronomical high tides are lowering, coastal flooding is expected with each daytime high tide cycle along the Charleston and Colleton county coasts. In fact, major coastal flooding is possible with the Saturday late morning high tide. Further south and along the Georgia coast, minor coastal flooding is likely with the daytime high tide cycle.
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&& .CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. SC...Coastal Flood Advisory from 9 PM this evening to midnight EDT tonight for SCZ049-050. MARINE...None. && $$