Charleston Weather Blog

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

Nice weekend shaping up ahead of an unsettled-looking week

/ April 30, 2021 at 7:10 PM

We’ve got a good-looking weekend queued up to start May. A cold front came through earlier today, and drier air is moving into the area from the north. This will make for a comfortable start to Saturday, with lows bottoming out in the mid-50s. Temperatures will rise into the mid-to-upper 70s under a mostly sunny sky — a really great day to get outdoors. Sunday will turn a little warmer with highs topping out in the low 80s under partly cloudy skies, but should still be quite nice.

As we get into next week, the pattern turns a little more unsettled with shower and thunderstorm chances each day through Thursday, though this should all settle out for another gorgeous weekend afterward. Enjoy!

Friday: Quite warm, but drying out behind a cold front

/ at 7:37 AM

This morning, we find a cold front moving into the Upstate of SC. Said front looks to cross the area this afternoon with mostly little fanfare; expect mostly clear skies by sundown. Despite the front, today will be the warmest day of the week as deep downslope flow in the wake of the front allows temperatures to warm into the upper 80s. Dewpoints will trend downward, though, and it will feel pretty good outside despite the higher heat to close April. The weekend looks pretty good, with an especially nice day coming up on Saturday — more later today!

Thursday: Turning warmer

/ April 28, 2021 at 10:14 PM

We’re going to feel a little more like late May than late April tomorrow as high pressure slides a little more offshore with strong ridging remaining aloft. Humidity creeps up a little bit, and with a little compressional warming beginning ahead of a cold front, temperatures will get into the mid-80s in the afternoon. We will remain rain-free for at least one more day given the ridging aloft; with only a slight chance of thunderstorms on Friday as the front swings through, it is conceivable we will stay rain-free through the weekend as high pressure builds back in behind it, cooling things off a little for Saturday.

Minor coastal flooding will remain an issue with the evening high tides through Friday. Winds will then shift offshore and lingering astronomical influences will wane, ending this cycle of coastal flooding.

Another warm day for Wednesday

/ April 27, 2021 at 8:33 PM

If you liked today, you’ll like Wednesday — we’ll get back up into the low 80s under mostly sunny skies. Temperatures will run a little warmer in the morning thanks to a little more cloud cover overnight, but will still be largely comfortable around 60°. The warming trend continues into Thursday, when we’ll reach into the mid-80s across the area ahead of a cold front. Said front looks to bring some showers and thunderstorms into the forecast for Friday, but the exact details of how rain will go down are still a little iffy. Stay tuned.

Coastal flooding will remain a concern with the 10:10 PM high tide Wednesday night as lingering astronomical influences and onshore flow persists. We’ll likely have another Coastal Flood Advisory as a result.

Tuesday: Another gorgeous spring day setting up

/ April 26, 2021 at 9:51 PM

We’ve got another nice day ahead on Tuesday with high pressure remaining in control both at the surface and aloft. Temperatures will start in the mid-50s before rising to about 80° in the afternoon (it’ll run a few degrees cooler at the beaches) under mostly sunny skies. There could be a few patches of fog in the morning, but nothing too out of band.

We’ll want to keep an eye on high tide Tuesday evening for another round of minor tidal flooding. High tide is expected around 9:18 PM, and water levels could approach 7.2′. Be ready to reroute in case roads close or are otherwise covered with water.

The week ahead: Warming up and mostly rainfree; tidal flooding possible in the evenings

/ April 25, 2021 at 10:43 PM

April will come to a close in a very familiar way: Warm and rain-free. Monday looks excellent, weather-wise, with clear skies and highs topping out in the upper 70s in the afternoon with an onshore breeze. High pressure will slowly slide offshore over the next few days, and the resulting return flow along with pronounced ridging aloft will allow temperatures — and dew points — to creep up as the week goes on. By Thursday, we’re doing mid-80s in the afternoon ahead of a cold front. The forecast picture becomes somewhat murky as we head into the weekend, with some solutions keeping us rain-free and others bringing showers and thunderstorms into the area. NWS split the difference for now and is indicating a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms Friday-Sunday, with the expectation that this is going to change. So, stay tuned.

Coastal flooding threat: read more