Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Columbia, SC
Issued by NWS Columbia, SC
935 FXUS62 KCAE 141150 AFDCAE Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Columbia SC 650 AM EST Fri Nov 14 2025 .SYNOPSIS... High pressure keeps dry conditions in place through the weekend with gradual warming trend continuing. The next chance of rain holds off until next week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Key message(s): - Dry high pressure in place with near to above normal temperatures An upper trough will move off the New England coast today while upper level ridging over the middle of the country shifts eastward, keeping the persistent northwesterly 500mb flow over the forecast area. At the surface, high pressure currently centered over the TN Valley will shift eastward over the Carolinas. This will result in generally light and variable winds across the area today though a southwesterly direction may be favored by late afternoon. Generally sunny skies expected with a few passing high clouds. The combination of northwesterly downsloping mid level flow and sunshine and a well mixed dry air mass should result in another warm day with highs ranging from the upper 60s north to lower 70s in the CSRA. Mostly clear skies and light winds should allow for strong radiational cooling with overnight lows expected to be in the lower 40s. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... Key message(s): - A warm and dry pattern continues this weekend - Well above normal and windy conditions are expected ahead of a dry cold front on Sunday. While the pattern over the CONUS and North America looks amplified through this weekend and early next week, its impact on our sensible weather won`t be significant. The weather this weekend generally looks quite nice, actually! On Saturday we`ll see high pressure quickly shift to the southeast over Florida and the Bahamas in advance of an approaching low pressure system over southeastern Canada. This low is forecast to develop ahead of digging trough across the Great Lakes, with the bulk of the forcing for ascent staying well to our north as the low and attendant surface cold front approach our area. Temps on Saturday are forecast to be in the mid to upper 70s again. On SUnday, the front itself will approach from the northwest, with a real chance for us to make a run at the lower 80s. The airmass will remain very dry & southwesterly flow will favor robust warm advection in the low-levels. This combination should lead to very warm temps, especially with surface flow on Sunday taking on an increasingly downslope component. Sunday does look quite windy, with a tight pressure gradient yielding wind gusts at least 30+ mph. Lows on Saturday night look quite warm - in the upper 50s. Sunday night they should fall back into the mid to upper 40s as a slightly cooler airmass pushes in behind the front. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... Key message(s): - Dry conditions expected throughout the long term period. - Temperatures will likely remain above normal through the period. Guidance is in pretty good agreement on the pattern evolution as we head into next week. However, as we get into the middle/ end of next week, uncertainty increases. Troughing has been very common over the eastern CONUS in recent weeks due to a strong blocking pattern over Greenland. Guidance suggests that this will break down sometime next week, allowing some movement in the pattern. This does favor a general warming trend (despite our above normal temps already) as we get into next week. Ridging is forecast to build in by Tues/Wed, but guidance differs a bit on the exact way this occurs. Additionally, the ECMWF/GFS and their ensembles are quite a bit different as to what the upper level pattern looks like over the western US, adding uncertainty to what will happen at the end of this period. So while the general picture is that of a warmer and drier than normal timeframe as we head into next week, its difficult to predict what will happen with sensible weather, especially as we push towards this time next week. Highs are forecast to generally be in the 70s, with lows in the 40s or 50s. && .AVIATION /12Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... VFR conditions expected through the forecast period. High pressure centered over the TN Valley will build east today and continue to provide VFR conditions with only some passing high clouds this morning. Atmosphere too dry for fog concerns. Near calm winds will remain light today picking up to around 3 to 5 knots with variable direction although a more southerly direction may occur this afternoon. Some higher cloud may arrive toward the end of the forecast but no impacts expected. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...VFR conditions likely continue into the weekend with dry air in place. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...None. GA...None. && $$