Charleston Weather Blog

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

Friday & the weekend: Back into an unsettled period

/ May 16, 2024 at 11:39 PM

After a warm but quiet day Thursday, unsettled weather starts to work back into the area beginning Friday and continuing over the weekend.

We start Friday in the upper 60s to around 70°, warmer toward the beaches. We should see highs peak in the mid-to-upper 80s despite increasing cloud cover ahead of a disturbance that’ll bring some slight rain chances into the area on Friday evening into the overnight. It is also possible we may see a stray shower or storm midday as a decaying thunderstorm complex moves across the area. We’ll monitor precipitation trends throughout the day; keep rain gear handy just in case.

Shower and thunderstorm chances tick up for Saturday. It doesn’t look like an all-day rainout, but there will be periods of unsettled weather throughout the day, so be on guard for outdoor activities having to come indoors due to lightning and maybe even a strong to severe storm or two with damaging wind gusts the main concern. Temperatures will stay warm and muggy: Expect lows in the low 70s to yield to highs in the mid-to-upper 80s once again in the afternoon.

A front gets through late Saturday, and that leaves us with a slightly cooler Sunday with highs reaching just the low-to-mid-80s. However, periods of showers and thunderstorms will still be possible, and a couple of those could still be on the strong side. Keep rain plans front-of-mind for your Sunday as well.

Thursday: A brief respite from unsettled weather

/ at 7:31 PM

Thursday brings us a brief respite from the periods of storms that have punctuated the past few days as high pressure builds in. Temperatures start in the mid-60s, warming to the mid-80s in the afternoon. Dewpoints will run a couple degrees cooler than they did on Wednesday, so it won’t feel quite as humid.

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Rest of the work week: Quieter, warmer

/ May 14, 2024 at 8:08 PM

Expect generally quieter but warmer conditions for the second half of the work week as high pressure gives us a respite before another unsettled period commences Saturday.

Wednesday will feature a mix of clouds and sun that’ll help drive temperatures into the mid-80s in the afternoon after a start near 70°. A few showers and thunderstorms will be possible in the afternoon and early evening as a weak front moves through the area, and a strong wind gust or two can’t be ruled out in the stronger storms.

High pressure is the main weather driver on Thursday, yielding a fairly quiet and warm day across the Lowcountry. We’ll start the day in the mid-to-upper 60s, warming to the mid-to-upper 80s in the afternoon with just some passing clouds from time to time. Friday should remain mostly quiet with temperatures once again starting in the mid-60s before yielding to mid-80s in the afternoon. High pressure will be departing ahead of our next disturbance, and there’s still some question as to how soon showers and thunderstorms arrive in the area as a result. So, for now, there’s a slight chance we could see some activity Friday night, but it’s more likely that unsettled weather holds off until Saturday.