More sunshine will show itself starting Friday and lasting into the weekend courtesy of continued high pressure and northeasterly winds keeping a feed of cooler and drier air coming in. All in all, we can expect lows in the mid-60s each morning, with highs peaking in the low to mid-80s in the afternoon. Fun fact: This looks like the first weekend since July 26-27 without at least a trace of rain at either of the climate sites, so suffice it to say, we are very, very due for a quiet weekend of weather.
Thursday will run a bit on the cloudy side, but we’ll still see some peeks of sun at times to allow temperatures to warm from the mid-60s in the morning to the mid-80s in the afternoon. Northeasterly winds persist, keeping dewpoints relatively low and the air comfortably warm as a result. We will continue to contend with some salt water flooding around the midday high tide, which could close a few roads for those of us headed for an early lunch downtown.
Warmer and a little more humid air will return to the area Friday as winds go more southerly. With high pressure remaining in control for a few more days, though, we’ll stay largely quiet weather-wise this weekend before a front starts to affect the area later Sunday.
We’ll start to turn a little warmer on Thursday as high pressure to the northeast breaks down a bit, but we should still get one more good day of low humidity in before we start to see dewpoints begin to climb back toward 70° starting Friday. Temperatures on Thursday start quite comfortably once again, with mid-60s the general rule across much of the area. We’ll warm to the upper 80s on Thursday afternoon with plenty of sunshine. The only fly in the ointment may be some very minor coastal flooding around the 6:19 PM high tide, with water levels currently forecast just below 7′. If water levels trend a little higher, a Coastal Flood Advisory may be issued. Otherwise, though, it’ll be another really nice early September day in the Lowcountry.
Friday is looking a little warmer but should remain rain-free as high pressure remains the main weather driver for at least one more day. Temperatures start in the upper 60s, warming to the mid-to-upper 80s in the afternoon under partly cloudy skies. An uptick in cloud cover and maybe a stray shower or two could accompany the seabreeze in the afternoon, but guidance keeps the majority of the area dry.
Shower and thunderstorm chances kick up a little bit for the weekend, though the trend has been a bit drier overall as high pressure to the north keeps the better rain chances further south. Still, waves of low pressure should at least kick up scattered coverage across the area especially in the afternoons, but it doesn’t look like a washout, and it will be a far, far cry from last weekend’s deluge. Temperatures will continue to run below normal; expect highs in the mid-80s each afternoon after starting each day in the upper 60s. It won’t feel much like summer as we unofficially bring it to a close, but it should still at least feel fairly pleasant when storms aren’t around.
Another nice day lies ahead on Thursday, with a nice start in the upper 60s warming to the mid-80s in the afternoon. We should see a little uptick in cloud cover with a little higher-dewpoint air infiltrating in, but the forecast is largely rain-free. So, it’ll be another nice day to get out and about if you’ve got some time.
Friday and the weekend will be on the unsettled side as a front stalls out nearby. Waves of low pressure developing along the front will help to tap into resurgent tropical moisture, and given how soggy it’s been this month, it won’t take terribly much for flooding to develop. Thus, a Flood Watch will go into effect at 8am Friday, lasting into late Saturday night/early Sunday morning. We’ll want to pay close attention around the evening high tides on Friday and Saturday, as water levels in Charleston Harbor will remain elevated in the wake of Hurricane Erin. Salt water flooding looks like a good bet, and any heavy rain on top of that would cause widespread issues in downtown Charleston. Keep an ear out for flood alerts from the National Weather Service, especially for Flash Flood Warnings, as they may become necessary over the next few days.
The upside to this is that temperatures will run below normal. Highs on Friday should only top out in the mid-80s, while Saturday’s high may only climb to the low 80s. We’ll warm up a little on Sunday as the periods of heavy rain should taper off, but highs in the mid-80s still run a few clicks below the normal high of 89° this time of year.
Thursday will be another warm day across the Lowcountry, with lows in the mid-70s warming to the low-to-mid-90s in the afternoon. Heat indices will run in the upper 90s to perhaps 100° in spots under generally partly cloudy skies. We should start to see cloud cover begin to thicken a bit as we get into the afternoon and evening hours, though, with rain chances increasing as Hurricane Erin accelerates to the northeast and a cold front drives south into the area, stalling out as it gets to our south.
Another hot day is ahead Friday as heat indices once again climb well into the 100s under partly cloudy skies before thunderstorms develop along and ahead of the seabreeze in the afternoon. These will be generally scattered in nature — not everyone will see a storm, but those who do could get a quick round of heavy rain and gusty winds along with a good bit of lightning.
Better storm chances arrive on Saturday as a front sags south and eventually falls apart. Many of us should see a storm on Saturday, particularly in the afternoon, with plenty of triggers available for thunderstorm development. This should also help keep temperatures pinned to around 90° — still hot, but not as hot.
Lower dewpoints move in with northeast flow behind the front, giving us a little less humidity to deal with and slightly cooler temperatures as well. Ridging aloft will persist, allowing highs to get to around 90°, while a few showers and thunderstorms will be possible on the seabreeze each afternoon. We’ll keep this going into next week, too.
Thursday will be a fairly typical mid-August day across the area. We’ll start in the mid-to-upper 70s, warming to around 90° in the afternoon with heat indices generally running in the low to mid-100s given continued dewpoints in the mid-to-upper-70s, highest downtown and along the coast with closer proximity to the water. Once again, showers and thunderstorms should fire on the seabreeze in the afternoon, and a couple of those could be on the strong side with frequent lightning and gusty winds. Winds out of the west will drive showers and storms coastward, so keep an eye on this if you’re taking a day at the beach (you lucky duck).
