The warmest day of #FakeSpring is upon us, with highs expected to top out in the low 80s away from the beaches, which will remain much cooler under the influence of water temperatures in the 50s. The NWS forecast high of 81° would be a new record for the date.

Records are falling

Charleston International Airport in North Charleston set a new record high of 78° on Wednesday. This breaks the record of 77° last set in 2008. (The record was first set in 1989.)

While today’s expected high of 81° wouldn’t be the earliest 80° day to start a year — that honor goes to January 1, 1952 when it was 80° — it is still a remarkably early start, exceeding normal highs by as much as 20°.

Friday may yet tie the record of 79° set in 1965, but it will be close as a cold front looks to move through in the late afternoon. Said front will not bring much in the way of rainfall, but it will knock temperatures below normal for the weekend.

Wedged in for the weekend

In the wake of the cold front, strong high pressure centered over New England will wedge down into the area. Northeast winds off the Atlantic and persistent high clouds associated with a jet streak aloft will keep temperatures suppressed into the mid-50s on Saturday. We stay rain-free this day, though.

On Sunday, the center of high pressure will start to shift offshore, allowing moisture to flow back into the area from the south. A coastal trough will strengthen, generating some showers that look to move north into the area late Sunday into the rest of the week. We should get a majority of Sunday in dry, though.

Unsettled work week next week

Shower chances will remain with us for much of the work week. On Monday, the coastal trough will lift away, but showers will remain in the forecast with a stationary front draped over the area. Temperatures will moderate into the mid-60s as southerly winds take shape. Tuesday looks warmer but could turn wetter as a cold front approaches the area from the west. Said front will get through sometime late Tuesday/early Wednesday, with lingering showers but cooler air as highs on Wednesday only look to top out in the low 60s. Models then show high pressure building back in to close the work week ahead of another disturbance.

Notably, no freezing temperatures are in the seven-day forecast, with very low chances of lows below freezing as we get into late next week. It still appears that there is a cold snap on the horizon as we close February, but we’ll need to watch and see how that turns out. For now, enjoy the thaw!

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