‘Rinse and repeat’: Beaufort County to see rain, high winds for a few days. Here’s when
As far as the National Weather Service is concerned, normal summer weather has finally crept into the Lowcountry.
It’s cloyingly humid. The sun blazes through the morning. And afternoon showers sporadically blow through.
A cold front moving down from the Piedmont area will bring rain and potential thunderstorms to Beaufort County starting Monday afternoon and into the early evening, said NWS Charleston Meteorologist Brian Adam.
A mix of heat and humidity in the atmosphere could cause a few isolated severe thunderstorms, bringing strong, damaging wind gusts and poses the possibility of hail, Adam said. Strong winds can cause damage to trees, mobile homes, roofs and cars. They can also cause widespread power outages.
It’ll be “rinse and repeat here for the next couple of days,” Adam added.
The mornings and early afternoons, through at least Wednesday, will be sunny with highs in the mid-to-high 80s, the service outlined. But around 2 p.m., beachgoers may need to pack up and head inside.
Adam said the No. 1 threat of the up-and-down weather pattern will be potentially damaging wind gusts — those greater than 58 mph. Strong winds can cause damage to trees, mobile homes, roofs and cars. Whipping wind can also cause widespread power outages.
Rain could accumulate between 1.5 and 2 inches over the three-day span, which could leave pools of water on roadways and increase the probability of flooding, the meteorologist said.
“We finally turn the switch here briefly, at least anyway, like a more summertime pattern that we would normally expect,” Adam said.
A three-day look
Monday: Storms predicted between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m., likely after 5 p.m., with a marginal risk. Chance of precipitation is 60%, bringing new rainfall amounts between a 1/4 and 1/2 inch. High near 86, low of 70.
Tuesday: Storms predicted between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m., mostly likely after 2 p.m., with a thunderstorm risk. A 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms, bringing new rainfall amounts between a 1/4 and 1/2 inch. High near 88, low of 72.
Wednesday: Storms predicted between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m, mainly after 2 p.m., with a marginal risk. Chance of precipitation 60%, bringing new rainfall amounts between a 3/4 and 1 inch. High near 85, low of 70.
What do the risk levels mean?
Marginal risk means isolated severe thunderstorms are possible, which are limited in duration, coverage and/or intensity, according to the NWS. Winds can reach up to 60 mph, hail up to 1 inch and a low tornado risk.
Thunderstorm risk means no severe thunderstorms expected, however, lightning and flooding still could occur, according to the NWS. Winds can reach up to 40 mph and small hail can fall.
