North Charleston, South Carolina 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

079
FXUS62 KCHS 191059
AFDCHS

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston SC
659 AM EDT Sun Apr 19 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
The Aviation section was updated for the 12Z TAFs.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
- 1) A cold front will bring low end rain chances today,
  followed by a brief cooldown early this week.

- 2) Minor coastal flooding possible along the South Carolina
  coast again this evening.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1: A cold front will bring low end rain chances today,
followed by a brief cooldown early this week.

This morning, regional radar composite and sfc observations
indicated that the cold front was located over the Southern
Appalachians and northern GA, pushing east. Given radar trends and
high resolution guidance, the front is timed to reach SE GA/SC just
after daybreak this morning. NAM12 indicates that H85 temperatures
ahead of the front is forecast to range between 10-15C at 12Z,
cooling to 6-8C by 21Z. The moderate CAA should result in
temperatures peaking in the mid 70s inland to the low to mid 80s
along the coast during the mid-day hours. Temperatures should
gradually cool through the rest of the day.

Unfortunately, the showers behind the front will gradually weaken in
the downslope flow within the lee of the Appalachians today. In
fact, REFS indicates that the line will totally dissipate upstream
of the forecast area. Recent runs of the HRRR indicates only a few
cells with dBZ cores around 30 this afternoon. Forecast soundings
indicates a very dry layer below H7 with little to no SBCAPE. This
forecast will continue with 20 to 30 PoPs, generally along and north
of the Savannah River. Little to no measurable rainfall is expected
today.

Temperatures will cool tonight into Monday morning. Guidance
indicates low temperatures Monday morning may range from the mid 40s
inland to the low to mid 50s along the coast. High temperatures on
Monday should favor values in the upper 70s to near 80, which is
near the normal high temperature. A secondary cold front may push
across the area on Monday, with CAA and clear sky Monday night. Low
temperatures on Tuesday should be comparable to Monday`s values.
Temperatures will then warm back into the 80s by Wednesday. Each
afternoon early this week will yield very low values of RH, ranging
from the teens to 20s.

KEY MESSAGE 2: Minor coastal flooding possible along the South
Carolina coast again this evening.

Elevated tidal ranges owing to the new moon (Friday) and perigee
(today) will begin to slowly subside today. Tidal departures are
likely to diminish as winds become northwest behind a cold front that
will cross coastal areas this afternoon. However, departures
potentially climb again later in the evening as the flow becomes
more northeast. If the departure remains elevated enough, minor
coastal flooding is possible once again with the 10:30 PM high tide
for the South Carolina coast, but cold frontal timing and post-
frontal wind strength will need to be monitored before the coastal
flooding forecast comes in to better focus.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
VFR conditions expected across the terminals through the 12Z
TAF period. Southwest to west winds around 10 kts should
continue through early this morning. A strong cold front is
timed to sweep across terminals around 15z this morning, with
winds veering from the northwest with gusts around 20kts. This
will generally be a dry cold front, however, a shower or two may
pass close to KCHS and KJZI. These showers will be highlighted
with a mention of VCSH from 18-24Z. By early this evening,
winds will turn from the northeast and will remain between 8-10
kts through the remainder of the TAF period.

Extended Aviation Outlook: Dry high pressure keeps VFR conditions
in place through much of the coming week.

&&

.MARINE...
A strong cold front is expected to sweep across the marine zones
this afternoon. Winds will veer from the NNE by this evening, with
gusts between 20-25 kts outside the Charleston Harbor. Seas are
forecast to build from 2-4 ft today to 3-7 ft by dawn Monday. A
Small Craft Advisory is in effect for the outer GA waters from this
evening until Monday afternoon to highlight the gusty winds and
building wave heights.

High pressure moves overhead Monday, with the gradient rapidly
weakening and light winds prevailing outside of the sea breeze
corridor by Monday afternoon. Secondary high pressure across the Mid-
Atlantic will ridge down the coast, bringing a brief period of
moderate to breeze NE winds Tuesday, with winds potentially
approaching SCA criteria. This high then builds overhead Wednesday,
with light winds again prevailing mid-to-late week.

Rip Currents: A Moderate Risk of rip currents remains in place for
all beaches today due to the combination of 2-3 ft breakers and
elevated astronomical influences associated with lunar perigee/new
moon. In the wake of strong cold front today, high pressure will
surge across the region tonight, resulting in gusty northeast winds
tonight through Monday morning along the coast. These winds should
generate a strong longshore current into Monday. Given the longshore
current combined with breakers around 3 ft and lingering elevated
tide cycles, a moderate risk will remain for all beaches on Monday,
possibly into Tuesday.

&&

.CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...None.
SC...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from 7 PM this evening to 5 PM EDT Monday
     for AMZ384.

&&

$$

CEB/NED