After a rather gorgeous — if not a touch windy — stretch of weather across the Lowcountry, rain chances return to the forecast for Thursday afternoon and evening as coastal low pressure drifts closer to the area. We’ll start to see an increase in cloud cover overnight into tomorrow morning, but the best rain chances should hold off until the afternoon. We may be contending with some showers for the evening drive, so be alert to that possibility. Temperatures will still run on the cool side as breezy north and northeast winds continue across the area; with the cloud cover and approaching rainfall, we shouldn’t see highs much warmer than the mid-70s.

Friday & the weekend: Turning warmer as rain departs

The best rain chances arrive on Friday as the low traverses the area. While rain could be somewhat widespread and locally heavy, much of the area shouldn’t count on too terribly much total precipitation, with generally .50-.75” favored across the area. Temperatures will once again be held generally in the mid-70s with cloud cover and rain in the area.

As the low moves inland, winds will begin to turn more southerly, and a warming trend will begin on Saturday. A few showers and thunderstorms will remain possible in the afternoon amidst partly cloudy skies. Highs will generally run in the upper 70s.

By Sunday, we should be mostly done with this round of showers and storms, and temperatures will continue their warming trend. Expect highs in the mid-80s after lows in the mid-60s on Sunday.

Lunar eclipse Sunday night

Partly cloudy skies are expected late Sunday into early Monday as the last total lunar eclipse visible from our neck of the woods until 2025 takes place beginning around 10:15 PM Sunday. The eclipse will peak just after midnight, and will end a little after 2 AM Monday. Temperatures should be comfortable — generally running in the mid-to-upper 60s — so we should have some decent viewing conditions provided cloud cover doesn’t become too thick. (Just mind fogging of the lenses!)