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  • Jared Smith 2:12 am on February 23, 2010 Permalink
    Tags: admin, chswxextra   

    Introducing @chswxextra 

    In an effort to keep the signal-to-noise ratio on @chswx high, I’ve decided to open a new Twitter account called @chswxextra. @chswxextra is intended as an enhancement to the alerts broadcast on @chswx.

    Why another account? I am constantly thinking about how to make and keep @chswx as useful as possible. Sometimes, less is more — and I find that’s absolutely the case when it comes to @chswx. You shouldn’t hear from it (outside of the periodic forecasts) unless conditions are taking a turn for the worse. I also believe that @chswx should be as accessible of a follow as possible, whether you’re on TweetDeck or receiving SMS tweets on a phone with no data plan. Of course, this is quite limiting, too — in a rapidly-developing situation, I’d often link off to the NWS or this blog with an expanded explanation of what’s going on.

    So, to best serve the widest range of users, I’ve decided to create @chswxextra, which as I described before is an enhancement to the alerts given on @chswx. @chswxextra is inspired by an idea at TheDigitel Charleston: @thedigitelextra, which gives additional commentary on a developing news situation to those who want more than just the regular Digitel Twitter feed. @chswxextra is much in that same vein. It provides the backchannel conversation to an ongoing event, complete with links to blog posts, NWS statements, multimedia, and more. It is not an account you follow over SMS; rather, it’s something you follow when you want more than just the alerts or the forecast — and I know there are plenty of you out there. :)

    So, check out @chswxextra and be sure to let me know what you think!

     

  • Jared Smith 7:27 pm on February 12, 2010 Permalink
    Tags: , storm report map,   

    Winter weather event well underway 

    Winter weather reports overlaid on RADAR from 6:15PM.

    Winter weather reports overlaid on RADAR from 6:15PM.

    No doubt about it — the forecast has verified and the Charleston area is well-encompassed in a winter weather event. Reports of snow are coming in from all over the place, primarily from inland locations (particularly in Berkeley County and Summerville). Accumulations of 1″ have been observed in Goose Creek. Snow will continue to push toward the coast — as I write this, there are fresh reports of snow in Shadowmoss in West Ashley — making for quite a fun winter weather Friday for the Lowcountry.

    I strongly discourage travel this evening, as snow will make visibilities very low at times. Also, there was quite a bit of rain that fell today ahead of this event, and there’s a good chance that could refreeze and create very slick spots on the roadways. This is also a concern for Saturday.

    Hopefully I’ll have snow pictures of my own soon!

     

  • Jared Smith 10:19 am on February 12, 2010 Permalink
    Tags: , winter storm warning   

    Winter Storm Warning begins at noon 

    snOMG! Charleston is looking at its first appreciable snowfall in over ten years this evening as a low pressure system develops and moves northeast, paralleling the coast and drawing in the necessary cold air to create what could be a potentially significant snow event (significant, at least, for our area — this will be no DC blizzard). NWS is forecasting up to 6″ inland — up from the 4″ expected yesterday. It’s very likely the wintry precipitation will reach the coast, so we do expect to see at least a rain/snow mix downtown. Confidence is very high in the forecast, as the forecast models have excellent agreement for a snow event across most of the state.

    While we don’t expect this event to snow people in, it is anticipated that travel will be hairy starting this afternoon through tomorrow. NWS released a safety statement a little while ago with some winter weather safety tips.

    We’ll be watching as the storm approaches throughout the day. Tag your photos and posts with #chswx and they’ll show up in the Collecta widget in the sidebar.

     

    • Jared Smith 5:35 pm on February 12, 2010 Permalink

      Snow reports are rolling in throughout the area. We’ve not yet seen anything in Charleston County, but I suspect that will change soon as snow is starting to mix with rain in Goose Creek. It’s been snowing around Moncks Corner and northward for a couple hours now. This transition will continue through 6 PM.

      There are some concerns that inland locations may see even more than 6″ of snow this afternoon, as there are some bits of energy moving east that have enhanced snowfall in some locations in Alabama and Georgia. This situation is continuing to develop and tough to pin.

      Regardless of what happens, travel will be tough over the next day. There may be some freezing drizzle overnight, causing some incredibly slick roads. There also is the potential for black ice and refreezing of melted snow overnight Saturday, as temperatures won’t get very high into the 40s.

      Stay tuned — this is going to be a fascinating Friday!

  • Jared Smith 10:41 am on January 21, 2010 Permalink
    Tags: , ,   

    Tough commute possible this afternoon 

    Heavy rain and thunderstorms — a few of which could reach severe limits — are a possibility this afternoon as a storm system pushes its way east through the area. While the best severe potential remains south of here (think Beaufort), there’s still a shot of some heavy rumbling up in Charleston. We’re not included in a watch or convective outlook yet, though that could change as the day rolls on.

    Another concern is flooding. Localized totals of 3″ are forecasted. Right now, expect the heavier rains to start around noon and pick up throughout the afternoon. As with any heavy rain event, street flooding in the usual spots downtown cannot be ruled out, but a widespread flooding event is probably not so much in the cards, as tides will be receding throughout the afternoon. High tide is at 11:20 AM, followed by low tide at 5:46 PM.

    Continue to watch this thread and @chswx for updates throughout the day.

     

    • Jared Smith 2:44 pm on January 21, 2010 Permalink

      Thanks to the steady rain, severe weather won’t be a worry this afternoon. The rain has been heavy at times, but rainfall totals haven’t been anything to write home about just yet. Still watching for a chance at some local flooding — particularly in the coastal areas — but the tide situation is on our side with that. Be careful if you have to travel today, as the rain and occasionally blustery wind will make things a bit difficult, particularly on the bridges.

  • Jared Smith 8:43 pm on January 7, 2010 Permalink
    Tags: , ,   

    NWS: Wintry mix after midnight, to end by daybreak; road impact minimal 

    While the expected wintry precipitation early Friday morning has already put some schools on a delay, the forecast is shaping up to be such that the biggest risk on the road tomorrow in the Charleston metro are drivers who are distracted by the snow. :) The key: Temperatures will not fall below freezing here, so no snow is expected to stick to the ground, nor will any of the wintry mix refreeze. Precipitation is expected to be fairly light so the roads shouldn’t even get terribly slick, and after the front comes through, things will dry out very quickly. Things will also stay pretty chilly; we’ll be lucky to get over 40 tomorrow.

    If you get cool pictures, post them to the service of your choice using the #chswx tag so they’ll show up in this search.

     

  • Jared Smith 10:15 am on January 7, 2010 Permalink
    Tags: ,   

    Winter weather possible overnight into Friday morning 

    NWS has us pegged for a slight chance of wintry precipitation tonight — and as you can imagine, that’s generated a bit of buzz in the area. The best chance for wintry precipitation is primarily inland, as the latest forecast models expect that it will be warmer over the coastal areas than previously thought, and may be warm enough that any precipitation there is all rain. It won’t be much, and it certainly won’t be cold enough for any snow to stick in most places. There is some concern for black ice inland — probably not in the Charleston metro area, but possibly further inland into Dorchester and Berkeley counties.

    From the NWS:

    …A LIGHT MIX OF RAIN/ICE PELLETS. THEN LIGHT SNOW LATE
    FROM W TO E WITH MAINLY RAIN ALONG THE NEAR COASTAL AREAS OUTSIDE
    OF ANY SLEET MIX AT TIMES. TOWARD DAWN ON FRI…WHATEVER MOISTURE
    LEFT IN LOCATIONS BORDERING E CENTRAL GEORGIA AND THE SOUTHERN
    MIDLANDS APPEARS TO FALL AS SOME FLURRIES BUT WE CONTINUE TO LOOK
    FOR A LIGHT NON-ACCUMULATING BRIEF WINTRY MIX EVENT AHEAD OF THE
    ARCTIC FRONT. DESPITE THE LIGHT AMOUNTS EXPECTED…A FEW PATCHES OF
    ICE/BLACK ICE ON AREA ROADWAYS…MAINLY INLAND STILL MAY BE POSSIBLE
    TOWARD DAWN ON FRI. THIS TREND SHOULD BECOME CLEARER AS THE PRECIP
    TIMING BECOMES MORE EVIDENT LATER TODAY OR EARLY THIS EVENING.

    I’ll update this thread as things become clearer throughout the day.

     

  • Jared Smith 7:57 pm on January 3, 2010 Permalink
    Tags: freeze, record lows   

    Record lows possible tonight 

    The first weekend of 2010 has been characterized by chilly temperatures, and that pattern will continue and could even intensify next weekend.

    Lows into the mid-to-upper teens and 20s are expected throughout the region overnight, and it’s quite likely that we’ll make a run for record lows tomorrow (the record at the Charleston Airport is 19, set in 2008; the record low for downtown is 28, set in 1981).

    Stay bundled up, and be sure to leave your faucets dripping tonight in the face of freezing temperatures.

     

  • Jared Smith 10:03 am on December 15, 2009 Permalink
    Tags: , , thunderstorms   

    Flooding bullet dodged; rain to ramp back up this afternoon 

    We got a reprieve this morning from what could have been quite a nasty rain event — the heaviest rain pushed offshore well before 3am and has broken a bit, allowing NWS to lift the Flash Flood Watch. The rain respite is welcomed this morning, with even some sun breaking through the clouds, but the next wave of energy will move in from the southwest this afternoon, bringing back more showers and some isolated thunderstorms. The heaviest rainfall is expected to remain in southern Georgia, so no widespread flood event is expected. Temperatures will reach the low 70s before the front pushes through — but don’t let the jackets stray too far. We’re back into the mid 50s for highs tomorrow, with abundant sunshine.

     

  • Jared Smith 10:40 pm on December 14, 2009 Permalink
    Tags: , , ,   

    Rain, potential flooding Tuesday morning 

    Our wetter-than-average December will continue through Tuesday — another several inches of rain are expected during the day Tuesday as another system pushes through the area. There are some concerns on the timing of the system — we could yet again see heavy rain coinciding with a high tide in downtown Charleston tomorrow morning. (High tide occurs just after 7am.) Thus, a Flash Flood Watch is in effect for Charleston County — primarily targeted at those areas of downtown that flood — through the morning hours. If your commute takes you through downtown, be careful of areas of standing water and don’t attempt to drive through them.

    We also have a shot at thunderstorms during the day; fortunately, conditions are not expected to be favorable for severe weather. Some severe weather, including tornadoes, has been observed in Georgia, but that activity is not expected to be a factor into the Charleston area. If conditions change, you’ll see an update on @chswx with further explanation here. Try to stay dry tomorrow!

     

    • Jared Smith 12:06 am on December 15, 2009 Permalink

      Rain is taking hold throughout the Charleston metro — it will be with us for a day or so. Expect to hear some embedded rumbles of thunder, as well. Rainfall rates are heaviest further south into Beaufort and Jasper counties; locally heavy rainfall is possible through tonight and tomorrow morning. Given that an inch or two of rain overnight is not out of the question, flooding problems may start downtown well before high tide.

    • Jared Smith 12:35 am on December 15, 2009 Permalink

      Fully expecting to see at least a flood advisory go up for low-lying and poor drainage areas soon — rainfall has been steady over the past hour with decent RADAR-estimated rates of up to 8 tenths of an inch per hour in some spots, including West Ashley. The more impressive rainfall rates are south of here and offshore; seeing estimations near 2″ per hour on a line between Beaufort and Hilton Head Island.

  • Jared Smith 10:24 am on December 9, 2009 Permalink
    Tags: , ,   

    Tornado Watch 803 CANCELLED as line of storms weakens 

    Tornado Watch 803 has been canceled as the energy needed to kick off additional severe weather has waned considerably; this is evident in the precipitation signature of the squall line pushing eastward. We may see rain with gusty winds — and you can never rule out a clap of thunder — but things have calmed considerably. The rain will be out of here by midday; enjoy one last day in the 70s before the temperatures plunge on Thursday.

     

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