We’re in full-blown Command-C/Command-V mode here at @chswx HQ this week, as one would typically expect in a Charleston summer: Highs in the low 90s with isolated afternoon thunderstorms expected. This forecast is right on the dot with mid-July climatology, and there’s really not too much else to write home about.

If you’re headed to the beaches or out on the water this morning, there is the risk of a waterspout underneath any tall cumulus towers, and there will be a persistent rip current risk all day. These are the only caveats — mind these and you’ll be in good shape.

The work week rolls on with pretty standard July weather as we remain under the influence of Atlantic high pressure. We’ll stay warm and muggy with lows in the low to mid-70s away from the coastal communities (where lows likely won’t dip below 80°). Highs each afternoon will continue to top out around 90-91° — right around where we should be for this time of year. Rain chances come down a touch on Friday, with mostly sunny skies currently expected.

Overall, brief heavy rain will be possible within any thunderstorms, though storms today did show a propensity to train a bit, with 2″ of rain recorded at a gauge in Mt. Pleasant within a persistent round of thunderstorms earlier today. The strongest storms could produce sporadic wind damage, but widespread severe weather is not in the forecast by any stretch.

Rain chances stay around normal for July heading into the weekend before ramping up a bit as we get into next week.

Another rather normal July day is in store for Tuesday. Expect a muggy start with lows in the mid-70s heading toward a high of around 90° in the afternoon. Like today, scattered showers and thunderstorms will factor into the weather picture possibly right out of the gate in the morning near the coast. This scattered storm risk progresses inland during the day with the seabreeze, leaving rain-free conditions in many spots by evening.

Heat indices will peak in the mid-90s in the afternoon, particularly around seabreeze passage as dewpoints surge in its wake, so be aware if you’re working outside around this time.

After a raucous night with Tropical Storm Elsa, we find ourselves in a lull this morning as the storm lifts quickly away to the northeast. Winds are slackening and we are drying out after a very soggy night — 4” is on the low end of rain totals around parts of the Charleston metro area. I’ll discuss more of Elsa’s aftermath later today as damage is assessed and additional rain totals come in.

For now, though, we get a bit of a break, but showers and thunderstorms are expected to fire back up this afternoon as a little energy aloft ripples through and induces some additional development with a little daytime heating. The good news is that additional severe weather is not expected. Rainfall amounts should generally be around a quarter-inch.

Highs top out in the mid-80s; the humidity will make it feel in the 90s.

The weather spotlight turns sharply onto Hurricane Elsa as it becomes the primary weather-maker for our neck of the woods through Thursday evening. Based on the current National Hurricane Center track, it looks as if the bulk of the bad weather associated with Elsa will arrive later Wednesday, with periods of very heavy rain being the overwhelming concern through Thursday morning.

After a remarkably dry Independence Day weekend, we will get back to work and a somewhat more familiar July weather pattern on Tuesday as tropical moisture ahead of Elsa begins to spread northward into the area, enhancing shower and thunderstorm chances in the afternoon. Temperatures will top out in the upper 80s to near 90°, and humidity will push heat indices into the mid-90s. We in #chswx do not expect any direct impacts from Elsa on Tuesday, but it is possible that there will be at least a Tropical Storm Watch put in place by then, so don’t be shocked if one is issued.

This is going to be one of the better Independence Days for weather in the Lowcountry thanks to an exceedingly rare cold front that came through this morning. Tomorrow will be warm, for sure — highs topping out around 90° away from the beaches — but the humidity (or lack thereof) will be the real story. NWS forecast dewpoints are in the low to mid-60s, which is almost unheard of around here in July. Drier air throughout the atmosphere will keep cloud cover to a minimum, making for a fantastic outdoors day across the Lowcountry. Don’t forget the sunscreen and be safe going to the beach!

After a couple days in a classic summertime Bermuda High setup, we’ll see that high continue to retrograde eastward, giving way to a cold front sinking south from the Ohio Valley. Said front will run into an incredibly juicy airmass courtesy of a robust moisture tap from the Gulf, and help to ignite numerous showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. This will have the effect of holding temperatures down into the mid-80s.

We’ve got a warm Thursday in store ahead of a cold front that will make for an unsettled Friday. Temperatures will run in the upper 80s away from the locally cooler coastline, and the humidity will make it feel well into the mid-90s. There will be a slight chance of showers and storms around midday as the seabreeze pushes inland, but that’s about it.

Friday will be a much different story as showers and thunderstorms become pervasive across the area ahead of a stalling cold front. This activity looks to continue into Saturday, but storm chances diminish significantly as we get into the Fourth. There’s still uncertainty here around the positioning of the front and the ultimate sensible weather outcome for the Charleston Metro Area, so I continue to encourage y’all to keep an eye on forecast updates as we head into the long holiday weekend.

All tropical storm warnings have been discontinued as Danny moves away and weakens, and so we can now look forward to a calmer and more sunny Tuesday. We could see an isolated shower or storm come in off the Atlantic in the morning, but other than that, we should see a good bit of sunshine and warmer temperatures. Highs will top out in the upper 80s, still a few degrees below normal for late June. Rain chances head up as the week goes on, and it’s conceivable that this could end up being the driest day of the week, so try to take advantage where you can.