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.
Another round of rain is expected overnight tonight as an upper-level disturbance moves through, with isolated showers possible during the day Wednesday.
The high pressure wedge won the day today, keeping temperatures well below forecasted levels in the low to mid-60s in the Charleston metro, while Moncks Corner struggled to 50°. It appears that the wedge will once again put a dent in temperatures tomorrow, with highs in the upper 60s in the Charleston metro perhaps being a bit generous if this afternoon’s high-resolution model runs have anything to say about it. Bottom line: Don’t misplace the light jacket tomorrow, preferably the green one given St. Patrick’s Day.
While we’ll be relatively calm tomorrow, a severe weather outbreak is expected from western Tennessee to Alabama as a strong storm system moves across the Mid-South. This storm system will head eastward and play a potentially major part in our weather on Thursday.
Well, it was nice while it lasted, but the rain is back overnight tonight into Tuesday as energy aloft as well as a surface low ripple along a stationary front to keep shower chances in the forecast, especially as we get into the evening hours. Expect the wedge front to retreat northward across the area during the day, with temperatures heading into the mid-70s in the afternoon in the metro area. 70s become a little less certain the further north and west you go; that will be governed strongly by just how far north the wedge front can retreat throughout the day. Models indicate a steep drop in temperatures across the front, potentially keeping areas near I-95 some 10-20° cooler than coastal areas.
A thunderstorm or two can’t be ruled out as we get into Tuesday afternoon and evening. A sampling of model soundings around the area suggest that a stronger storm or two may be in the cards, so we’ll want to keep an eye on this. However, no widespread severe weather is expected Tuesday.
Unsettled weather returns to the picture this week as a series of fronts stall out across the area, bringing shower and thunderstorm chances starting late Monday into much of the rest of the week. Temperatures will be on quite the rollercoaster as well; after topping out at 80° today, we drop back to 61° for Monday as a cold air damming wedge builds southwest across the area, bringing cooler air and gusty northeast winds. Moisture will increase throughout the day, and we will begin to see showers possibly as early as Monday evening, with better rain chances arriving overnight into Tuesday.
After the stalled cold front lifts back north across the area as a warm front on Tuesday (and there is a big question on just how far north it will lift, perhaps making 71° a tad optimistic), low pressure will traverse the area, keeping showers and perhaps a thunderstorm or two in the forecast into Wednesday. We could see a line of strong to even severe storms swing through the area ahead of a cold front on Thursday; this will certainly be something to watch over the coming days, but it’s impossible to nail down the details this far in advance given consequential model timing differences (as one would expect at this range).
By Friday, another cool wedge of high pressure looks to build in across the area from northeast to southwest, keeping cloud cover around and temperatures down in the low 60s, well below normal for mid-March. I wouldn’t be surprised to see some shower chances enter the picture near the coast on Sunday, but right now the NWS forecast is rain-free.
Warm and dry weather will continue into the weekend, with temperatures remaining well above normal until a cold front backdoors into the area Monday and introduces some rain chances. Until then, though, while we will see a slow increase in clouds, expect mid-to-upper 70s away from the locally cooler coastline.
Don’t forget: Early Sunday morning, we “spring forward” into Daylight Saving Time. Be sure to set your manually-set clocks ahead one hour before going to bed on Saturday night. It’s also a good time to check the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, not to mention your weather radio!
Our weather winning streak continues into Tuesday, with warmer temperatures in the afternoon after one more overnight frost. Cover up sensitive plants once again tonight and make sure your pets are in a warm, safe place.
Expect mostly sunny skies with perhaps a few clouds sneaking in during the afternoon. Temperatures will rise to around 70°, making it a fairly lovely — and climatologically normal — March afternoon. Hope you can take advantage!
High pressure will be the main factor in our weather throughout the week, keeping things dry and warming us up to the upper 70s for at least the first part of the weekend.
A freeze is expected inland of Highway 17 tonight, with scattered to widespread frost elsewhere. Be sure pets and plants are protected; if you live further inland, consider dripping a faucet as temperatures could dip into the upper 20s there. Frosty conditions will be possible again on Tuesday morning across much of the area, and a Frost Advisory may be needed.
Otherwise, though, expect temperatures to gradually warm up as the week goes on. High pressure will slip offshore, and the southerly return flow will help temperatures rise into the 70s by mid-week. There will be clouds from time to time, but no measurable rain is expected for several days. Our next chance of rain could come Sunday, but that is even right now at such a low probability that it isn’t mentioned in the NWS forecast.
It was a weird Saturday. (More on that in a minute.) Fortunately, Sunday will restore order to the forecast as clouds dissipate overnight in response to high pressure building back into the area. Despite full, unencumbered sunshine, we’ll stay quite chilly tomorrow, with the high of 57° coming in well under the normal of 68° for this point in March. Frost and even a light freeze will be possible overnight Sunday into Monday, too, so be ready to protect plants and pets.
But yes, no surprise rain or ice pellets. For real this time. And thankfully (for our psyches, anyway), we look predominantly dry well into next week and perhaps beyond.
I don’t remember the last time the seven-day forecast was so calm. High pressure remains in control, which means little to no rain chances and steadily warming temperatures into the 70s by the end of next week. It’s a worthy reprieve from what’s been a soggy start to 2021 so far.
Saturday will be a bit on the cloudy and cool side, with highs topping out in the mid-50s with peeks of sun becoming more frequent in the afternoon. Sunday is my pick day of the weekend; despite temperatures remaining well below normal, there will be plenty of sunshine, and the March sun angle will hit a little differently than, say, January.
From there, a warming trend will commence, and by the end of next week, temperatures look to be running a few degrees above normal in the mid-70s.
The only weather concern of note will be the potential for frost and freeze conditions each morning starting Sunday through Tuesday. If you’ve planted, be ready to protect that sensitive vegetation and make sure your pets have a warm spot to be.
After a very turbulent stretch lasting over a month, it looks like we finally will be getting an extended period of mostly quiet weather. That began with today’s Severely Nice Weather Alert Day, which featured cobalt blue skies and highs topping out around 70-71° across the area.
Overnight, a cold front will backdoor in from the north, switching winds northeasterly and keeping temperatures cooler for Friday. Expect mostly sunny skies throughout the day with clouds increasing late as some upper-level energy ripples through the area. A shower or two can’t be totally ruled out overnight Friday into Saturday, but the chances are super-low right now.
We’ll start Saturday with a fair bit of cloud cover, but do expect the sun to be peeking through with increasing frequency as the day goes on. Temperatures will remain rather chilly by early March standards, only topping out in the upper 50s.
Cloud cover will dissipate for Sunday as high pressure continues its reign over our weather. Despite full sunshine, temperatures will once again only rise to the upper 50s, well below normal (68°).
As we get into next week, there will be some frost and freeze potential, so be aware if you’ve started planting. Otherwise, though, it looks like an extended period of mostly quiet weather is in the offing — good news for this rain-weary populace.
Expect a soaking rain to pick up overnight and last through early Wednesday afternoon. Rain totals should end up being around 1-2″ across much of the Tri-County with locally heavier amounts. If there’s a piece of good news in this, right now it appears that the heavier rain is going to miss our next two times of high tide (10:33 PM Tuesday, 10:49 AM Wednesday). Salt water flooding remains a concern around times of high tide, though, with a Coastal Flood Advisory until midnight as the 10:33 PM high tide will approach 7′ in the harbor. If rain does pick up around that time, there could be more trouble on area roads, so be aware of that possibility through tomorrow.
Low pressure will depart the area Wednesday afternoon, which will shut the rain off and allow skies to begin to clear out. Depending on the timing of the clearing, we should see temperatures rise to the mid-to-upper 50s in the afternoon, setting up a rather nice Thursday with clear skies and highs in the mid-60s.