North Charleston, South Carolina 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

484
FXUS62 KCHS 181814
AFDCHS

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston SC
214 PM EDT Thu Jun 18 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
All sections have been updated.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
- 1) Hot and humid conditions today with strong to severe thunderstorms
  possible this afternoon and evening and again late tonight.

- 2) A more typical summertime pattern is expected for the
  weekend into next week with daily shower and thunderstorm
  chances. Hot and humid conditions are expected Monday and
  Tuesday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1: Hot and humid conditions today with strong to severe
thunderstorms possible this afternoon and evening and again late
tonight.

As evident in the satellite water vapor, a short-wave ridging will
remain across the area ahead of the closed low over the Deep South
associated with the remnants of Arthur. Given mid June insolation
and very mild llvl thicknesses, temperatures should range in the mid
90s along the coast with low 90s inland. Sfc dewpoints are forecast
to range from the upper 70s along the coast to the mid 70s inland.
Heat index values between 101 to 107 should be common across the
coastal counties this afternoon.

The hot and humid conditions across the region will provide moderate
instability across the region. SPC mesoanalysis indicates that
SBCAPE may peak around 4000 J/kg with MLCAPE around 2500 J/kg. The
12Z KCHS sounding observed a freezing level around 15.5 kft. The
thermo profiles along with effective bulk shear around 20 kts may
support a few severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening.
Severe thunderstorms along the sea breeze may remain pulse-like where
55 dBZ cores that reach up to 29-30 kft. However, the increasing
shear may support weakly organize multicell clusters across inland
GA and SC. The primary thunderstorm hazards this afternoon and
evening will be isolated damaging wind gusts and cloud-to-surface
lightning. The most likely time window for severe thunderstorms is
expected between 5-9 PM. Storm motions this afternoon and evening
are forecast to remain around 15 mph.

Tonight, the center of low pressure associated with the remnants of
Arthur will pass generally along and north of the I-20 corridor.
High resolution guidance indicates that a band of thunderstorms
associated with the system may sweep east to SE GA and SC after 3 AM
tonight. Generally, this line should weaken as it push east, over a
somewhat worked over air mass and increasing overnight stability.
However, increasing shear may result in some organization of
thunderstorm clusters, with the potential for severe wind gusts.
This scenario appears most likely across SE GA and the southernmost
SC counties during the pre-dawn hours Friday morning. The
environment could support some rotating updrafts, leading to a non-
zero risk for tornadoes, primarily across SE GA.

On Friday, the line of showers and thunderstorms should push
offshore shortly after sunrise. A lingering trough may remain across
SE GA through Friday afternoon. This feature may serve as a focus
for afternoon to early evening thunderstorms. Otherwise, conditions
will remain humid with temperatures peaking in the upper 80s.

KEY MESSAGE 2: A more typical summertime pattern is expected for the
weekend into next week with daily shower and thunderstorm chances.
Hot and humid conditions are expected Monday and Tuesday.

A front in the vicinity on Saturday will eventually wash out,
with the region to become positioned between high pressure
offshore and an approaching cold front Monday into Tuesday.
Shower and thunderstorm chances will be in the forecast each
day, with coverage peaking in the afternoon and evenings when
instability is maximized. Organized severe weather potential is
low, but cannot rule out a couple strong to severe storms each
day during this time of year.

Also of note, hot and humid conditions are expected Monday and
Tuesday ahead of an approaching cold front. Heat indices could reach
the 105-110F range, particularly along the coastal counties. We will
need to watch the potential for Heat Advisories.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
Prior to the 18Z TAFs, KCLX and visible satellite detected a sea
near KSAV and between KCHS and KJZI, with developing TSRA near KCHS,
KSAV, and KJZI. The TAFs will feature a TEMPO during the heat of the
day to indicate the potential of moderate thunderstorms. Overnight,
a band of showers and thunderstorms may impact the terminals around
dawn Friday morning, highlighted with a PROB30 from 9-13Z. After
sunrise, west winds should strengthen with gusts between 20-25 kts
after 13Z.

Extended Aviation Outlook: Brief periods of flight restrictions
possible with any showers and thunderstorms.

&&

.MARINE...
Through this evening, the pressure pattern will support southwest
winds between 15 to 20 kts with gusts into the mid 20s. Wave heights
are forecast to remain between 3 to 5 ft. Some thunderstorms could
push off the SC coast this evening, possibly requiring Special
Marine Warnings.

Tonight into Friday, the approach of the remnants of Arthur will
increase the pressure gradient across the waters. Gale wind gusts
appear likely over the SC nearshore and outer waters by late tonight
and should remain into the early friday afternoon hours. Gale
Warnings have been issued for the SC waters outside the CHS Harbor.
Elsewhere, Small Craft Advisories will remain in effect.

Saturday through Tuesday: Marine conditions will subside Saturday
with no additional concerns through the weekend. Another front could
approach the area Monday into Tuesday, leading to increasing winds
and seas. Gusts could approach 25 knots at times especially in the
afternoons, but looks fairly marginal for Small Craft Advisories at
this time.

Rip Currents: Increasing swells and gusty winds will lead to a
Moderate risk for rip currents at South Carolina beaches
Friday.

&&

.CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...None.
SC...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from midnight tonight to 4 PM EDT Friday
     for AMZ340.
     Small Craft Advisory until 6 AM EDT Friday for AMZ360.
     Gale Warning from 6 AM to 4 PM EDT Friday for AMZ360-362-380-
     382.
     Small Craft Advisory from 8 PM this evening to 6 AM EDT Friday
     for AMZ362.
     Small Craft Advisory from 2 AM to 5 PM EDT Friday for AMZ364.
     Small Craft Advisory from 2 AM to 8 PM EDT Friday for AMZ384.

&&

$$

ETM/NED