Charleston Weather

Introducing @chswxextra

Jared Smith — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 06:12:07 +0000

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!

Winter weather event well underway

Jared Smith — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 23:27:52 +0000

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!

Winter Storm Warning begins at noon

Jared Smith — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:19:11 +0000

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.

Tough commute possible this afternoon

Jared Smith — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:41:50 +0000

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.

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

Jared Smith — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:43:32 +0000

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.

Winter weather possible overnight into Friday morning

Jared Smith — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:15:37 +0000

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.

Record lows possible tonight

Jared Smith — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 23:57:50 +0000

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.

Flooding bullet dodged; rain to ramp back up this afternoon

Jared Smith — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:03:41 +0000

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.

Rain, potential flooding Tuesday morning

Jared Smith — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 02:40:23 +0000

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!

Tornado Watch 803 CANCELLED as line of storms weakens

Jared Smith — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:24:45 +0000

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.