Another day or two of quiet weather is expected as deep-layer dry air remains in place over our part of the world, suppressing thunderstorm development and keeping temperatures a little more in check. Wednesday looks pretty good by July standards, with mostly sunny skies and highs in the low 90s expected. Surface dewpoints in the low 70s should yield a peak heat index around 99°, generally after the seabreeze moves by. Thursday will run a degree or two warmer with a little bit more in the way of cloud cover as moisture starts to tick up somewhat. Peak heat indices should run around 100° during the mid-afternoon hours.

We get back to a more traditional July pattern of afternoon thunderstorms on Friday as more humid air begins to work back into the area. We start the day in the upper 70s and top out in the mid-90s before scattered thunderstorms develop in the afternoon and evening hours along the seabreeze. Heat indices could top out above 105°. We’ll keep this going into the weekend, too, with the potential for advisory-level warmth (heat index 110°+ for two hours) and scattered thunderstorms as the main weather concerns for outdoor activities.

Somewhat drier air (aloft, anyway) moving into the area Tuesday will put an end to the soggy weather for a few days, though an isolated afternoon thunderstorm does remain possible. We start the day in the low 70s — the coolest start to a day since June 28 — before warming into the low 90s in the afternoon. While the drier air will provide for generally partly cloudy skies amidst a somewhat brilliant blue sky, it’ll still be fairly humid at the surface; expect heat indices to peak around 100° in the afternoon as the seabreeze moves by. All in all, though, we should have plenty of sun to help sop up this latest round of heavy rain.

The week ahead will feature what passes for a “cooldown” in mid-July followed by a return to temperatures running a few degrees above normal for this point in the year. But first, a soggy Monday as showers and thunderstorms ahead of a cold front take center stage. Some very heavy rain is possible, with another 1-2″ of rain possible across the area with locally higher amounts. We’ll have to watch for the potential for flooding as storms could train across some of the same spots repeatedly; there is also the matter of the 3:07 PM high tide to be concerned about, too, for downtown Charleston. The clouds and rain will keep highs in the mid-80s for the first time since June 23rd, so at least there’s a brief break from the heat. (Silver linings, etc.)