Charleston Weather Blog

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

Scattered storms continue Sunday

/ May 4, 2024 at 5:56 PM

Expect another round of scattered showers and storms on Sunday. Most of us could see rain at any point in the day. The best chances start closer to the coast in the morning and migrate inland during the afternoon, much as we saw on Saturday. It’ll be muggy, too: lows will barely get below 70°, while highs top out in the mid-80s as dewpoints continue generally in the mid-60s.

Once again, Sunday is not a washout threat, especially as you get closer to the coast. However, you’ll want to make sure your outdoor plans have a solid indoor backup. Remember: When thunder roars, go indoors!

Weekend forecast: Turning unsettled, but no washout

/ May 3, 2024 at 6:28 PM

A periodically unsettled weekend lies ahead as high pressure aloft gives way to a few disturbances rippling through the area. After another mild start in the mid-60s, Saturday will feature primarily isolated to scattered afternoon thunderstorms driven by the seabreeze. Temperatures will head into the mid-80s in the afternoon between any storms that fire. Overall, severe weather is not expected, but you’ll still want to take lightning into account for any outdoor plans you may have.

Sunday could feature perhaps slightly better coverage of showers and thunderstorms, but there is still no expectation of a total washout. Lows will bottom out just in the upper 60s, warming back to the mid-80s in the afternoon. Once again, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got a solid indoor backup for your outdoor plans, but don’t cancel anything, either. Just remember the old adage: “When thunder roars, go indoors.”

Friday & the weekend: Another foggy start, then a few storms to contend with

/ May 2, 2024 at 9:29 PM

Get ready for another foggy start across much of the area Friday morning, as conditions appear favorable once again for some dense fog to develop and potentially have some commute impacts. Once again, if you’re encountering fog, slow down and use those low beams.

Once fog clears by mid-morning, expect generally partly cloudy skies with highs topping out once again in the mid-80s on Friday afternoon. A few inland spots could see a shower or storm, but the vast majority of us stay rain-free.

High pressure aloft will break down in time for Saturday, and some energy moving into the area will allow for isolated to scattered thunderstorms to break out particularly in the afternoon and early evening. It won’t rain all day in any one location, but having a backup indoor plan for your outdoor plans is a smart call. With the scattering of storms, expect highs to run a couple degrees cooler on Saturday, but still in the mid-80s. Sunday looks similar, with a slightly better chance of seeing some storms in the afternoon than on Saturday. Once again, expect lows in the mid-to-upper 60s to yield to mid-80s highs in the afternoon outside of thunderstorms.

From here, it turns hot…mid-90s may be in the cards by the middle of next week as we get a solid summer preview. (Whether that’s a good or bad thing is a thought exercise left to the reader.)

Thursday: Foggy start to a warm day

/ May 1, 2024 at 9:14 PM

We’ll wake up to some fog in the area on Thursday morning, with some patches of dense fog not out of the question. This might have some commute impacts, to be ready to allow a little extra time to get where you are going tomorrow morning. Be sure to use low beams in fog, even if the sun is out — you want to be seen — but avoid the high beams as they may act to blind you.

Fog looks to scour out around 9-10am or so, and we should be in for a partly cloudy to mostly sunny day across the Lowcountry with temperatures rising to the mid-80s in the afternoon. Aside from the fog, there are no other weather concerns of note.

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Rest of the work week: Storms taper Wednesday, quiet and warm through Friday

/ at 7:16 PM

Scattered showers and thunderstorms will arrive in the metro area late Tuesday and last through Wednesday morning before tapering. An isolated storm is possible along the seabreeze in the early afternoon, but otherwise, expect a mostly quiet day of weather across the area for Wednesday. We’ll get started in the mid-60s — about 5° or so above normal for this point in the year — and warm to the mid-80s in the afternoon. These temperatures generally hold true for the rest of the week, too, as high pressure reasserts control. Thursday and Friday will be rain-free, with just a slight uptick in clouds on Friday ahead of a disturbance that brings scattered storm chances to the area for the weekend.