Charleston Weather Blog

Forecast explanations, atmospheric science, and other cool weather-related stuff for Charleston, SC

Sunday: Showers and wind, with sporadic damaging gusts possible

/ February 15, 2025 at 10:00 PM

Sunday will be a very breezy day as a highly dynamic storm system moves across the eastern half of the continental United States. Showers and a few thunderstorms should set up in a line ahead of a cold front which will come through generally between 11am and 1pm, according to NWS. The line of showers and storms could produce damaging wind gusts to 60 MPH, which could prompt some Severe Thunderstorm Warnings for tree damage and possible power outages. Even outside of storms, gusts 40+ MPH will be possible, especially on bridges and overpasses. A Wind Advisory goes into effect overnight through about 5PM.

Rain will be offshore by evening, and winds will die down as the front clears the area. This will set up a much cooler week ahead, with a mid-week secondary front likely to send us back below freezing for the first time since the January snow later in the week.

Friday & the weekend: Turning cooler for Friday, but warm and unsettled weather returns this weekend

/ February 13, 2025 at 8:21 PM

A cold front that brought showers and a few thunderstorms to the Lowcountry — including a tornado warning for Hilton Head Island — is through the area, and we’ll start Friday on a much cooler note as a result. Expect lows in the low 40s Friday morning, warming only to the upper 50s in the afternoon despite much more sunshine.

Read more »

Thursday: A line of showers and thunderstorms moves through; cooler air to follow

/ February 12, 2025 at 11:34 PM

A warm front will lift north of the area overnight, scouring out some dense fog and sending much warmer and more humid air into the area ahead of an approaching cold front. Within the warm sector, we’ll start in the mid-50s, warming to the mid-70s early on before a line of showers and maybe a few thunderstorms approaches the area, generally affecting the metro between 10am-4pm. Severe weather is unlikely this far north where instability is a bit more meager, but a rumble of thunder or two with a strong wind gust is still not totally out of the question. You won’t need the rain gear all day, though, as storms should be offshore by evening with the front following thereafter.

Read more »

Rest of the work week: A bit warmer Wednesday, stormy Thursday, cooler Friday

/ February 11, 2025 at 6:29 PM

The temperature rollercoaster takes another upswing Wednesday and Thursday before dipping again Friday as a series of fronts affect the area.

Astute @chswx readers will note that Wednesday’s forecast high is about 10° cooler than the 74° that was advertised yesterday. High-resolution model guidance is strongly suggestive that the wedge front will take longer to move northward across the area as a warm front than previously thought. In fact, there’s some indications that it may stall out right across the Tri-County for a time, which certainly makes for a tricky temperature forecast. Right now, the going forecast is the mid-60s with mostly cloudy skies expected.

Read more »

Tuesday: Wedge hangs on with a few showers possible

/ February 10, 2025 at 11:23 PM

A wedge of cool high pressure hangs tough on Tuesday, bringing another gray and cool day to the area. Temperatures start in the mid-40s, warming to the low 60s in the afternoon — right around normal for this point in February. There’s going to be a risk for some showers from time to time, but an all-day rain isn’t expected.

Read more »

The week ahead: More unsettled as we get back aboard the temperature rollercoaster

/ February 9, 2025 at 11:40 PM

After a record-breaking stretch of warmth over the past few days, we turn much cooler and cloudier for Monday as a backdoor front slides south and cooler high pressure wedges into the area in its wake. We could see some showers in the morning, but otherwise expect a mostly overcast day as lows in the mid-50s only warm a few degrees, perhaps not even cracking 60° in the afternoon. This stands in stark contrast to the record high of 84° set on Sunday, smashing the previous record for the date of 80° set in 1949. And while it’s been easy to forget with such warm weather, it is still February, and these things happen.

Read more »