Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Charleston, SC

KEY MESSAGES
- 1) Dry weather and above-normal temperatures will continue through Saturday, followed by a brief cooldown.

DISCUSSION
KEY MESSAGE 1: Dry weather and above-normal temperatures will continue through Saturday, followed by a brief cooldown.

Prominent ridging aloft and subtropical high pressure at the surface will continue to support dry weather and above-normal temperatures through Saturday. Highs could approach daily records in some spots.

A strong cold front will sweep through Sunday, bringing the potential for isolated showers over southern SC in the afternoon. Unfortunately another multi-day dry spell is expected next week. Monday will be noticeably cooler with highs only in the low to mid 70s. Temps will gradually warm back up next week.

AVIATION /18Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/
VFR.

Extended Aviation Outlook: VFR.

MARINE
Atlantic high pressure centered offshore will remain the dominant weather influence across local waters through late week, producing a modest southerly flow regime. Localized enhancement of winds should occur mainly along the land/sea interface, where mid-afternoon sea breeze circulations shift inland. Winds could be highest across the Charleston Harbor during peak heating hours and timing of sea breeze, with gusts as high as 20 kt at times.

Latest guidance still indicates a cold front pushing across the coastal waters on Sunday, supporting enhanced winds and building seas across local waters Sunday night and Monday. Northerly winds should gust up to 25-30 kt across most waters, although a brief period of gale force gusts are possible across outer Georgia waters Monday. Seas could also build to 6-9 ft, largest across outer Georgia waters as well. Small Craft Advisories will likely be needed for most waters, and a Gale Watch could eventually be needed for outer Georgia waters.

Rip Currents: A Moderate Risk of rip currents remains in place for all beaches through Thursday due to the combination of 2-3 ft swell around 10 seconds, modest onshore flow, and increasing astronomical influences associated with lunar perigee/new moon. An elevated risk for rip currents will likely persist this weekend and especially early next week as a pinched gradient associated with a passing cold front supports a gusty northeast wind event along the Southeast Coast.

CLIMATE

Record High Temperatures:

April 15: KSAV: 92/1972

April 16: KSAV: 92/1967

April 17: KCHS: 91/1967 KCXM: 86/2006 KSAV: 95/1967

April 18: KCHS: 92/1967 KSAV: 93/1967

CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
GA...None.
SC...None.
MARINE...None.