


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Charleston, SC
Issued by NWS Charleston, SC
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458 FXUS62 KCHS 291705 AFDCHS Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Charleston SC 105 PM EDT Fri Aug 29 2025 .SYNOPSIS... High pressure will extend across the area as a stationary front lingers well to the south and offshore into the middle of next week. A cold front is then anticipated to arrive late next week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... A band of channeled vorticity will continue to interact with a stalled front to the south to produce some shower activity over Southeast Georgia through the remainder of the afternoon hours, especially near the Altamaha River. A few rumbles can not be completely ruled out near the Altamaha River, but the better mixed-layer instability should remain displaced well to the south. 29/13z NBM highs in the mid-upper 80s look okay, although they may end up being a tad high closer to the Altamaha River where considerable cloud cover and ongoing light shower activity may limit temperature rises somewhat. Pops for the remainder of the afternoon range from 0-5% over the South Carolina Lowcountry with 10-50% over Southeast Georgia, highest near the Altamaha River. Surface high pressure will maintain its influence on the region tonight as it steadily propagates off the Southeast U.S. coast. A deepening return flow atop the lingering shallow wedge will promote weak to moderate isentropic ascent overnight. Lift looks greatest along the 300-305K surfaces coincident with lowering condensation pressure deficits. This should lead to a gradual uptick in isolated to scattered shower development overnight with the greatest coverage occurring over Southeast Georgia and closer to daybreak. Pops range from 10-20% over the Lowcountry with 20-40% over Southeast Georgia. A little bit of elevated instability looks to work in along parts of the Georgia coast and nearby Atlantic waters after midnight, which may support a tstm or two, especially if corridors of locally stronger isentropic forcing can be realized. Lows will range from the mid-upper 60s well inland to the lower-mid 70s at the coast and for areas near the Altamaha River. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... Mid-lvl troughing will dominate this weekend as shortwaves ripple across the region along the southern periphery edge of this trough. At the surface, a nearly stationary front will position itself across the Florida Peninsula. Model guidance continues to suggest that a low will develop along this boundary and then eventually move offshore by the end of the weekend. Although quite a bit of uncertainty remains in the evolution and strength of this low, the majority of guidance supports scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms throughout the weekend as ample moisture and mid-lvl support will be in place. As of right now, the greatest coverage will likely occur along and south of I-16. Given the recent large amount of rainfall in the past week, it`s understandable that WPC has highlighted portions of the region under a Marginal Risk (level 1 of 4) for excessive rainfall on Saturday and Sunday. On Monday, a mid-lvl low will attempt to cutoff across the Mid- Atlantic and allow for subtle waves of h5 vort. energy to be advected across the Southeast. This sort of setup will produce additional showers and thunderstorms across the region, however coverage will be less due to the downward trend of PWATs. Temperatures will remain below normal this weekend into early next week as east-northeasterly winds persist and high pressure builds into the region. Expect highs in the upper 70s to low 80s on Saturday, and then low to mid 80s on Sunday and Monday. Overnight lows will range in the mid to upper 60s inland and low 70s near the coastline. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... With an amplified upper-lvl trough aloft, another weak low pressure tries to form offshore early next week. However, recent model guidance suggests a surface high sets up north of the region and this could possibly place us in a wedge situation. As deep moisture and isentropic ascent become more favorable across the region, this setup should aid in higher afternoon shower and thunderstorm coverage by the middle of the week. Thereafter, a cold front approaches the region from the northwest and unsettled conditions could continue through the end of the week. Temperatures will remain below normal through the middle of the week, and then near normal by the end of the week depending on the strength of the high pressure ahead of the front. && .AVIATION /15Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... 29/18z Aviation Discussion: KCHS/KJZI/KSAV: VFR will prevail through 30/18z. Isolated to scattered shower activity could approach KSAV by 09z, but more likely after daybreak as isentropic ascent persists. The rain looks to remain fairly light so no major vsby restrictions are expected at this time. Extended Aviation Forecast: VFR conditions should generally prevail at KCHS/KJZI/KSAV terminals through early next week, although brief periods of flight restrictions are possible each afternoon due to showers and thunderstorms. The greatest chance for flight restrictions appear to be on Saturday, especially KSAV as a low pressure tracks nearby. && .MARINE... Tonight: Onshore winds will prevail as high pressure shifts offshore. Winds will remain less than 10 kt with seas 1-3 ft. Saturday through Wednesday: A weak area of low pressure will attempt to track across the Florida Peninsula along a frontal boundary this weekend while surface high pressure holds across the Carolinas into Central Georgia. Expect east-northeasterly winds to persist across the Atlantic until early next week. There is potential for winds to become quite gusty (w/ 20 to 25 kts possible) on Sunday as the pressure gradient tightens up. Therefore, Small Craft Advisories could needed for portions of the local waters on Sunday and potentially lasting through Tuesday morning. Seas will range from 2 to 3 ft over the weekend, and then build 4 to 6 ft early next week. Rip Currents: A moderate risk for rip currents is in place for all beaches on Sunday due to the increasing strength of the pressure gradient. && .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... Tidal departures could begin to build over the weekend into early next week as low pressure develops offshore and a wedge of high pressure lingers inland. Tides could get close to minor flood thresholds in the Charleston Harbor by Monday yielding a risk for coastal flooding across coastal areas of Charleston and Colleton Counties during mainly the afternoon high tide cycle. This risk may extend into the middle of next week depending on how strong the pinched gradient gets. && .CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. SC...None. MARINE...None. && $$