135 FXUS62 KCAE 130616 AFDCAEArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Columbia SC 216 AM EDT Sat Sep 13 2025
.SYNOPSIS... High pressure will dominate the weather pattern through the next few days. Our next chance of rain might be early next week but is dependent on the location and development of an upper level low.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Key message(s):
- Breezy northeast winds, and otherwise calm weather for Saturday.
Broad upper trough lingers over the area with surface ridging extending down lee of the Appalachians. Dry air continues to advect at low levels and PWAT`s overall remain around 1.0" across the area thanks to northeasterly flow below 700mb and northwesterly flow aloft. The only feature of note today will be the aforementioned winds, with some gusty northeast surface winds 18-22 mph during the afternoon. Otherwise no impactful changes to the synoptic pattern are expected through Sunday morning.
&&
.SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/... Key message(s):
- Warm and dry weather expected Sunday.
- Possible light rain Monday in the eastern Midlands and Pee Dee region.
Upper level omega block pattern amplifies on Sunday as a shortwave trough ejects from the intermountain west into the northern Plains which forces the upper ridge axis into the Great Lakes region. This could result in the upper trough off the coast cutting off and retrograding back inland over the Carolinas by Monday. The ECMWF and its ensembles are the most aggressive with cutting off this low and moving it inland which would also result in onshore low level flow, a significant increase in moisture, and potential for light rain showers. General consensus is that we will remain dry given other ensembles keeping the trough axis offshore or bringing it inland north of our area but will keep the slight chance pops favoring the eastern Midlands and Pee Dee regions. Breezy conditions expected in the afternoon due to an increased pressure gradient. Temperatures will continue to be above normal with highs in the mid 80s but the dry air mass should continue to favor cooler than normal low temperatures in the lower 60s.
&&
.LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... Key message(s):
- General upper level troughing continues over the region.
- Possible rain chances on Tuesday.
The extended forecast continues to focus around the lingering upper trough over the southeast and Mid-Atlantic region mid week and then confidence is reduced through the end of the forecast period due to uncertainty of how the upper pattern evolves with the eventual breakdown of the omega block pattern. If the more aggressive ECMWF ensemble solution verifies then the chances of rain will continue on Tuesday favoring the eastern Midlands and Pee Dee region as PWATs rise back near to slightly above normal, but overall generally dry weather is expected through the extended forecast period. The evolution of the upper pattern by late week looks to favor a more zonal flow and expect temperatures to rise back well above normal with highs in the upper 80s approaching 90 degrees.
&&
.AVIATION /06Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... VFR likely through the period.
A low level jet overnight should mitigate any stratus or fog concern through Saturday morning. Saturday, surface high pressure remains in place across SC and GA, with only some few-sct cu expected in terms of cloud cover. Winds are the main feature, with northeasterly surface winds continuing, sustained 8-12 knots with gusts up to 20 knots in the afternoon. Winds will relax after 00z but enough of a low level jet will linger overnight to again mitigate stratus-fog concerns Sunday morning.
EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...A dry air mass will be over the region through early Monday with aviation restrictions unlikely. The chance for restrictions increases mid next week as moisture deepens.
&&
.CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...None. GA...None.
&&
$$
NWS CAE Office Area Forecast Discussion