The weather story this week is early spring, and not just because Punxsutawney Phil said so. (And can one truly call it an early spring if winter hasn’t really been much of a factor?) Much of the week will be punctuated by temperatures in the low 70s as our lack-of-winter continues thanks to a rather high-latitude jet stream keeping Arctic air locked in to the north.
With this warmth, though, comes the specter of severe storms, and it appears there is some potential for this on Thursday as a cold front approaches the area.
Are y’all ready to chill out a little? We’ll start the week with temperatures well below normal as an Arctic airmass takes hold across the Lowcountry. Freezing temperatures will be possible inland of 17 Monday morning with highs only topping out in the mid-40s. A more widespread freeze is forecasted Tuesday and Wednesday, with the potential for freezing conditions all the way into downtown Charleston. Be ready to bring in pets and sensitive plants.
As we get into the second half of the week, temperatures will begin to moderate. Thursday will approach 60°, and Friday will be much warmer as a cold front approaches the area with showers coming alongside it. Showers will gradually clear out Saturday, and by Sunday, we’ll have fewer clouds and temperatures back to near-normal levels for late January.
We’ve got another very warm day on tap for Monday as a cold front approaches the area with a few showers (and perhaps a rumble of thunder or two) coming along with it. Temperatures will drop closer to normal for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day with pleasant skies to greet us for 2020. Then, things turn unsettled and warm again as we head toward Friday and Saturday as another cold front works its way through the area. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Sunday turn out a lot cooler than 65° — a lot depends on when a secondary shot of cool air moves into the area. Rest assured that the first full week back to work and school looks much cooler!
Meteorological winter began today, and it will definitely feel a little chilly as we start the work week off with highs topping out in the mid-50s. Temperatures will moderate a bit to the low 60s heading into Wednesday and Thursday. We’ll remain dry for much of the work week. Our next rain chance could come as early as Friday afternoon and may persist into the weekend; there’s a lot of model disagreement around specifics here, so stay tuned for forecast fine-tuning.
The fair may be over, but the temperature rollercoaster is still open for business with plenty of ups and downs in this week’s forecast. So, strap in, and get ready for a steep drop!
After a very refreshing weekend of below-normal temperatures, we will be headed back into the 70s for a few days starting Monday. (For what it’s worth, highs in the 70s are normal for early November.) However, another round of unseasonably cool weather is on tap for the weekend.
While much of the nation will close October out with fairly cold temperatures, a sliver of warmth will hug the East Coast, keeping temperatures closer to late September/early October normals for the work week. Upper-level disturbances will keep the weather rather unsettled as well, with rain chances Tuesday-Friday before a cold front ushers fall back into the picture for the weekend.
Our abnormally warm and dry September will roll into the first few days of October as strong high pressure aloft remains anchored over the southeast U.S.
Changes are coming, though, and I suspect many of you will be OK with them.
By the time some of you read this, the autumnal equinox will likely have passed (3:09 am), ushering in astronomical Fall. (It’s been meteorological fall since September 1.) Don’t tell that to Ma Nature, though. High pressure aloft is re-establishing itself, ushering us back into what is effectively a very summer-like pattern for the upcoming week.
