


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Charleston, SC
Issued by NWS Charleston, SC
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844 FXUS62 KCHS 171944 AFDCHS Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Charleston SC 344 PM EDT Tue Jun 17 2025 .SYNOPSIS... High pressure in the Atlantic will prevail across the Southeast this week. A cold front could approach, then pass just to our north later this week. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING/... We`ll remain on the western side of a strong deep layered ridge through tonight. The cumulus field has been notably suppressed so far this afternoon due to the mid-level cap. Isolated showers or a thunderstorm could pop up along the sea breeze or farther inland within the lee trough, but coverage will be very limited and anything that does develop should die off by early evening. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY/... The mid-levels will consist of a broad 594 dam High located off the Southeast U.S. coast Wednesday morning. Its western periphery will stretch into our area through Thursday morning. By later Thursday, the High will get pushed offshore by a trough that`ll stretch from the Great Lake Region down into the Deep South. This trough will pass over the spine of the Appalachians Thursday evening, then the East Coast early Friday morning, before moving offshore by late Friday. At the surface, High pressure will prevail in the Atlantic this week, with its western periphery stretching into our area. A cold front should approach from the northwest Thursday night, then either brush or pass just to our north on Friday. This synoptic pattern will usher PWATs >1.75" across our area. High temperatures will be in the lower to middle 90s each day. Though, it`ll be cooler at the beaches due to the sea breeze. Heat indices will also be above 100 degrees. The combination of heat and moisture will generate a decent amount of instability and DCAPE, with both looking to trend higher each day, and possibly being the highest on Friday. Shear should be modest each day. The deterministic models have a typical summertime convective pattern in place during the short term, with isolated to maybe scattered convection along the sea breeze on Wednesday, then scattered convection on Thursday, and possibly the highest coverage on Friday, due to the proximity of the front. For this reason the SPC has part of our area under a Marginal Risk of severe thunderstorms on Friday. As for the severe potential, strong to marginally severe pulse storms are possible on Thursday, with Friday potentially being the most likely day in the short term. The main threat would be damaging winds. Locally heavy downpours are also a concern, especially if the storms are slow moving and train. The convection should decrease in both intensity and coverage during the evening, with only a stray shower possible each night. Lows will be mild, generally the 70s. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... The aforementioned front dissipates into the weekend, with High pressure remaining in the Atlantic. Expect diurnal convection to persist throughout the long term time period. Temperatures should remain in the lower to middle 90s with heat indices topping out in the 100-105 degree range. && .AVIATION /19Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... VFR. Extended Aviation Forecast: Brief flight restrictions are possible in showers and thunderstorms, mainly each afternoon and early evening. && .MARINE... S to SW flow around 15 kt will continue through tonight as we remain in the western periphery of Atlantic high pressure. A decent sea breeze this afternoon into early this evening could produce a few gusts in Charleston Harbor above 20 kt. High pressure will prevail in the Atlantic this week, with its western periphery stretching into our coastal waters. A cold front should approach from the northwest Thursday night, then either brush or pass just to our north on Friday. Expect a typical summertime wind pattern. Each day, winds should back with the formation of the afternoon sea breeze. The strongest winds will be along the land/sea interface and across the Charleston Harbor (with its passage). Each night, winds will veer and increase as the nocturnal jet sets up, especially closer to the coast. Wind gusts could briefly hit 25 kt at times through Friday, so we can`t rule out Small Craft Advisories for some of the marine zones. Seas will generally peak in the 3-4 ft range. && .CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. SC...None. MARINE...None. && $$ NEAR TERM...JRL SHORT TERM...MS LONG TERM...MS AVIATION...JRL/MS MARINE...JRL/MS