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The week ahead: Trading excessive heat for storms

/ July 2, 2023 at 11:08 PM

Hot weather continues to start the week before yielding to more numerous showers and thunderstorms starting mid-week. (It’ll still be hot and humid, though.)

Heat indices exceeding 105° will continue to be the story through Wednesday, including the July 4th holiday. We will see an increasing chance for afternoon showers and thunderstorms along and ahead of the seabreeze, though, improving the chance that some of you may see relief. (That could, however, come with the risk for cloud-to-ground lightning and maybe even some damaging wind gusts.)

Elevated rain chances continue each afternoon into the weekend as the high pressure ridge is displaced further to the south, putting us in the path of disturbances rippling through aloft and perhaps allowing fronts to get nearby at the surface. This will bring max temperatures down a little, though we’ll still run each day in the low 90s before storms initiate. Dewpoints in the mid-70s should yield heat indices between 102-105° each day as well. It won’t rain all the time, but be ready to bring outdoor activities indoors if thunderstorms approach.

As is common in summertime, a few thunderstorms could become strong to severe, typically by way of downburst winds exceeding 60 MPH. Be ready to heed all Severe Thunderstorm Warnings as straight-line winds can still do quite a bit of damage in their own right!

Coastal flooding concerns continue

After the water level peaked at 7.27′ MLLW on Sunday evening to produce minor coastal flooding, we’ll do it again on Monday and Tuesday as effects of the July 3rd full moon continue. Water levels should peak between 7.2-7.4′ on Monday evening, with similar heights possible Tuesday. High tide peaks around 8:58 PM on Monday and 9:53 PM on Tuesday. If you’re out and about in coastal communities or in downtown Charleston a few hours around those times, be ready to use alternate routes in case you encounter a flooded road.


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