Cold front making its way to the Lowcountry. When to expect high winds, thunderstorms
A cold front moving through the United States that’s dumped several feet of snow and brought hurricane-force winds in the West will make its way to the Lowcountry on Friday.
While Beaufort County won’t be hit with the same nose-diving temperatures, whipping winds beginning Friday afternoon and lasting through the evening could stir up trouble, according to the National Weather Service.
As humidity increases ahead of the front, State Climate Office’s severe weather liaison Frank Strait said it’ll stay “unseasonably warm.” But as the cold front moves in, strong non-thunderstorm winds will blow in the county, reaching speeds as high as 40 mph over land, the service said.
Severe weather could bring wind gusts up to 58 mph. Strong winds can cause damage to trees, mobile homes, roofs and cars. They can also cause widespread power outages.
Gale-force winds, gusting as strong as 40 knots over coastal waters, will cause hazardous seas and reduced visibility. Such strong winds could capsize of damage vessels, NWS noted.
On Friday evening, the front may produce a strong line of thunderstorms.
The region remains at “marginal risk” for severe weather, which was downgraded by the Storm Prediction Center on Thursday morning. Earlier predictions called for potential isolated tornadoes, but as of early Thursday morning, that threat was not listed in the NWS’ Charleston Office’s weather alert.
“The primary risk from the storms will be damaging straight-line winds,” Strait said. “Strong winds will be present aloft as the thunderstorms move through on Friday evening. “
Strait and the NWS place the concern of severe thunderstorms for more-inland areas and the Upstate. However, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s hazardous outlook alert for Beaufort County warns that “it is possible that one or two thunderstorms may become strong to severe.”
On Friday, Beaufort County will reach a balmy 82 degrees, with increasing winds by the afternoon. There is a 30% chance of rain in the evening, which will lift by Saturday morning, according to the service.
This story was originally published March 2, 2023 at 9:18 AM.
