Blog

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.

Severe weather threat tapers off, but heavy rainfall still possible

/ April 23, 2020 at 5:53 PM

As many of us had hoped for, the risk for severe weather was overtaken by stable, steady rain moving in across the Lowcountry this afternoon. There are still some rumbles of thunder, and certainly some decent rainfall in spots, but the risk for damaging wind gusts and tornadoes has ended in the Lowcountry.

Read more »

A severe weather threat we will be awake for, at least

/ at 9:20 AM

Our active severe weather season continues with another risk of damaging wind gusts and perhaps a tornado or two this afternoon into the evening hours. (At least we will be awake for this one — in 2020, you take the wins you can get.)

Read more »

Great weather for Tuesday, with an unsettled Thursday on the horizon

/ April 20, 2020 at 10:42 PM

Tuesday will be a mostly sunny day in-between cold fronts. Winds will turn from the south to the southwest throughout the day, allowing temperatures to swing from the mid-50s to around 80° in the afternoon. No weather hazards to speak of for Tuesday, thankfully — business as “usual” (by 2020 standards, anyway).

Read more »

[UPDATED] Tornado watch canceled early, threat for severe weather is over

/ at 3:45 AM

UPDATE: As of 6:44am, the tornado watch for Charleston County has been canceled. The severe weather threat is over. Previous reporting below, for posterity:

A Tornado Watch has been issued until 11 am for Charleston County and the adjacent coastal waters. We continue to monitor the progression of a warm front that looks to destabilize the atmosphere primarily in the immediate Charleston metro area for now.

Inland counties (looking at you, Berkeley and Dorchester) remain in a very stable airmass. While the warm front could impinge upon these areas and yet destabilize here, it appears that the main threat for severe weather will be along the coast through the morning. With that in mind, though, trends will be watched, and it is possible the Watch may be extended further north.

In addition to tornadoes, gusts to 75 MPH will be possible as a potent low-level jet develops along the coast. Remember, straight-line winds can still cause plenty of problems; they account for a vast majority of the weather-related damage we see here.

This will be the live blog for this morning’s event. (Or, with any luck, non-event.) Follow along with updates below…

Another Monday morning severe weather threat

/ April 19, 2020 at 11:33 PM

Here’s the lowdown on Monday:

I will have a new live blog in the morning.

Monitoring conditions to the west for Monday’s severe weather threat

/ at 10:35 AM

Good Sunday morning to you all. Once again, the Charleston metro area finds itself watching the weather intently for the potential for a few strong to severe thunderstorms, particularly tonight into tomorrow morning. The area is outlined with an enhanced severe weather risk, which is a 3 out of 5 on the Storm Prediction Center’s scale. Unfortunately, damaging winds and potentially strong tornadoes are once again on the table.

Read more »

More severe weather possible Sunday afternoon through Monday morning

/ April 18, 2020 at 5:26 PM

Our active spring severe weather season looks to continue Sunday night into Monday morning, as a potent storm system traverses a ripe, well-sheared airmass in the Southeast with the potential for tornadoes and damaging winds.

Read more »

Another round of unsettled, and possibly severe, weather for Sunday

/ April 17, 2020 at 5:57 PM

While damage surveys continue from this Monday’s tornado outbreak, we begin to look ahead to the upcoming weekend, which may hold another severe weather threat as we roll on into Sunday afternoon and evening.

Read more »

Much more sun for Thursday as cooler-than-normal temperatures continue

/ April 15, 2020 at 6:43 PM

After this morning’s deluge and a very chilly afternoon, Thursday’s going to be pretty great, weather-wise — much more sunshine, low humidity, and highs around 70 in the afternoon as surface high pressure settles in over much of the eastern half of the country. The normal high for April 16 is 77°, so this will run several degrees below normal. Most importantly, we’ll get a chance to dry out after a couple rounds of rather heavy rain. Try to enjoy it as best you can in these circumstances!

After morning showers, much cooler for Wednesday

/ April 14, 2020 at 6:27 PM

Get ready for another big temperature swing for Wednesday. We’ll have some showers in the area during the morning as low pressure shifts offshore, pushing a stalled front near the coast further eastward. As that happens, cool high pressure will build in, keeping temperatures well below normal for mid-April in the mid-60s — legit late-season hoodie weather for your walk around the neighborhood or grocery runs. Expect temperatures to continue below normal through the end of the work week.