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Author: Jared Smith

Jared Smith founded @chswx on Twitter in 2008 as an experiment in disseminating weather data through social media. In the ensuing decade-and-a-half, @chswx has provided live coverage of tropical cyclones, tornadoes, severe weather, and even a couple bouts of winter weather to the good people of Charleston, SC.

The week ahead: Fewer storms, but more heat

/ June 15, 2025 at 11:37 PM

The good news for this week’s weather is that we’ll see a bit more of a lid put on the atmosphere as we get into midweek, which should help to decrease the coverage of — but not eliminate completely — afternoon showers and thunderstorms. The tradeoff, though, is that it’s going to get hotter, with heat indices creeping toward 105° for the first time this year.

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Weekend forecast: Staying on the stormy side, but it won’t rain all the time

/ June 13, 2025 at 10:03 PM

I’m running out of ways to say “it’s going to be hot and stormy” but here we are. The pattern remains stagnant with the Charleston area on the western periphery of Atlantic high pressure at the surface and aloft. Mid-level disturbances will continue to ripple into the area from the west, and those disturbances combined with a continued influx of warm and humid air will keep rain chances elevated, especially in the afternoons. Saturday starts in the mid-70s, warming to the upper 80s in the afternoon. Thunderstorms should initiate once again in the late morning and early afternoon hours, particularly along and ahead of the seabreeze. As with previous days, the risk for severe weather is generally low, though a strong to severe storm can’t be ruled out especially where outflow boundaries collide.

We’ll do it again on Father’s Day, with lows in the mid-70s warming to around 90° in the afternoon. Once again, expect scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms to develop across the area especially during the afternoon hours. Once again, pockets of heavy rain will be possible, and an isolated severe storm is not out of the question. As always, though, all thunderstorms are dangerous due to the lightning they produce. Remember the rule: if you can see lightning or hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck and should head inside.

Friday & the weekend: Stormy early-summer pattern continues

/ June 12, 2025 at 10:32 PM

Active weather continues to be in the cards as we head into Friday and the weekend as we continue to sit on the western periphery of high pressure, allowing bits of energy aloft to ripple through at times to instigate more showers and thunderstorms. We’ll also have periods to dry out, too, with the sun getting through and helping temperatures build into the 90s by Sunday.

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Thursday: More afternoon storms expected

/ June 11, 2025 at 8:48 PM

After a quiet start to the day, another round of afternoon showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop and move across parts of the Tri-County on Thursday as we remain in an unsettled pattern. Alas, we will keep this going into the weekend, too.

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Rest of the work week: Periods of more thunderstorms

/ June 10, 2025 at 6:11 PM

Thunderstorms will continue to feature prominently in the forecast as we head into the second half of the work week as warm and humid conditions continue. Temperatures will generally run pretty steady-state, right around normal for this point in the year with lows in the low 70s warming to the upper 80s each afternoon, with some moderation in temperatures expected at times thanks to thunderstorms. It won’t rain all the time as the best chances for storms will arrive each afternoon, though a stray storm or two can’t be ruled out at any point.

The risk for organized severe weather will decrease heading into the second half of the work week as high pressure ridges in aloft. Still, colliding outflow boundaries and storms interacting with the seabreeze can help produce short-lived, localized severe weather. Be sure you’re listening for weather warnings as you head out and about, just in case.

Tuesday: Storm chances return; a couple could be strong

/ June 9, 2025 at 10:29 PM

Showers and storms, a few of which could be on the strong side, will be possible again on Tuesday, particularly in the afternoon, as low pressure aloft remains in place and the heating of the day kicks in. The warm and muggy airmass stays in place, with lows in the low 70s warming to the upper 80s in the afternoon before storms develop. Guidance suggests showers and storms develop in the 2-3 PM timeframe, and there will be the risk for a storm or two to become severe once again with damaging winds the main threat. The risk for severe weather is a little lower Tuesday, but will still need to be monitored especially after a rough day for Summerville.

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The week ahead: Staying rather unsettled

/ June 8, 2025 at 8:12 PM

Warm, muggy, and unsettled weather will continue heading into this second week of June as a front stalls out nearby, which will help to instigate numerous showers and thunderstorms with the heating of the day each afternoon.

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Weekend forecast: Warm and occasionally stormy

/ June 6, 2025 at 7:38 PM

Heat and humidity will continue to feature prominently in the weekend’s weather as we watch disturbances to our west potentially introduce a risk for strong to severe thunderstorms at times. If you have outdoor activities planned this weekend, keep a close eye on the weather.

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Friday & the weekend: Turning hotter, severe risk increases

/ at 12:27 AM

The good news for Friday is that storm chances trend downward, with just some isolated storms on the seabreeze expected in the afternoon. We could stand to dry out a bit, especially after the deluge in Summerville on Thursday, and Friday gives some of us an opportunity to do exactly that. It’ll be very summerlike, though, with highs around 90° after a low 70s start, and low-70s dewpoints will make it feel more like the mid-to-upper 90s.

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Thursday: More storms, especially in the afternoon

/ June 5, 2025 at 12:26 AM

Thunderstorms remain likely, especially in the afternoon, as low pressure lifts north and away from the area throughout the day. A warm and humid airmass remains in place, and this will get us off to a balmy start in the low 70s. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms should redevelop by afternoon, keeping highs suppressed to the mid-80s. Rain could still be heavy at times, with spots potentially reaching another inch of rain or so before it’s over. Not everyone will see that kind of rain, though.

Breezy conditions remain possible especially at the coast and over the waters, so it’ll be another day where boating and beaching will be generally unadvisable. The good news, though, is that with the low pushing inland, the risk for any sort of tropical development — low as the risk was this entire time — has ended. (Take the wins where you get them.)