415  
FXUS62 KCAE 170119  
AFDCAE  
 
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC  
919 PM EDT MON MAR 16 2026  
   
WHAT HAS CHANGED
 
 
GUSTY WINDS CONTINUE THIS EVENING BEHIND A DEPARTING COLD FRONT. A  
FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF THE FORECAST AREA  
TONIGHT. UPDATED DISCUSSION FOR 00Z TAF ISSUANCE.  
 

 
   
KEY MESSAGES
 
 
- 1. BEHIND THE COLD FRONT, GUSTY WEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE INTO  
EARLY TUESDAY MORNING WITH A LAKE WIND ADVISORY REMAINING IN  
EFFECT.  
 
- 2. THE FREEZE WARNING FOR TONIGHT HAS BEEN EXPANDED EASTWARD  
AND NOW INCLUDES ALL BUT THE SOUTHEASTERN MIDLANDS. A FREEZE  
WATCH IS IN EFFECT TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR  
THE ENTIRE FORECAST AREA WHEN A HARD FREEZE POSSIBLE.  
 

 
   
DISCUSSION
 
 
KEY MESSAGE 1: BEHIND THE COLD FRONT, GUSTY WEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE INTO  
EARLY TUESDAY MORNING WITH A LAKE WIND ADVISORY REMAINING IN EFFECT.  
 
THE COLD FRONT HAS CROSSED THE MIDLANDS AND IS NOW EAST OF THE  
FORECAST AREA ALONG WITH ANY REMAINING SHOWERS. SKIES ARE  
EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO CLEAR OVERNIGHT. THE PRESSURE GRADIENT  
WILL REMAIN TIGHT FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS, AND LAKE WIND  
ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH 2 AM TUESDAY MORNING. EXPECT  
FREQUENT WIND GUSTS BETWEEN 25 AND 35 MPH, WITH GUSTS IN EXCESS  
OF 40 MPH POSSIBLE.  
 
KEY MESSAGE 2: THE FREEZE WARNING FOR TONIGHT HAS BEEN EXPANDED EASTWARD  
AND NOW INCLUDES ALL BUT THE SOUTHEASTERN MIDLANDS. A FREEZE WATCH  
IS IN EFFECT TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR THE ENTIRE FA  
WITH A HARD FREEZE POSSIBLE.  
 
TEMPERATURES DROP QUICKLY AS STRONG CAA DEVELOPS THIS EVENING.  
WITH SKIES CLEARING FROM WEST TO EAST, THE FREEZE WARNING WAS  
EXPANDED TO INCLUDE CHESTERFIELD, CALHOUN, BAMBERG, AND THE  
WESTERN TWO-THIRDS OF ORANGEBURG COUNTY. THESE ARE THE  
LOCATIONS THAT HAVE AT LEAST A 50% CHANCE OF SEEING SUBFREEZING  
TEMPERATURES TONIGHT BASED ON THE LATEST GUIDANCE. THE WIND  
REMAINS THE PRIMARY DETERRENT TO RADIATIONAL COOLING TONIGHT AS  
GUSTY WINDS OFTEN LIMIT HOW COLD A LOCATION GETS. FORECAST LOWS  
WILL RANGE FROM THE UPPER 20S TO LOWER 30S, COLDER IN THE  
NORMALLY SHELTERED LOCATIONS. WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR TRENDS  
AND SEE IF THE REMAINING COUNTIES OF THE MIDLANDS (LEE, SUMTER,  
CLARENDON, AND EASTERN ORANGEBURG) NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE  
WARNING TONIGHT. WITH THE GROWING SEASON IN FULL SWING, IT IS  
ADVISED THAT ANY SENSITIVE VEGETATION BE PROTECTED OR BROUGHT  
INDOORS AS A PRECAUTION TONIGHT EVEN OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTIES  
CURRENTLY IN THE FREEZE WARNING.  
 
CONFIDENCE REMAINS HIGH REGARDING THE POTENTIAL FOR SUBFREEZING  
TEMPERATURES TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING. STRONG HIGH  
PRESSURE MOVES OVERHEAD, PROMOTING IDEAL RADIATIONAL COOLING  
CONDITIONS. THE ENTIRE FA REMAINS IN A FREEZE WATCH TOMORROW  
NIGHT AND A HARD FREEZE IS POSSIBLE IN SOME LOCATIONS WITH MOST  
LOCATIONS FALLING INTO THE UPPER 20S. A THIRD NIGHT OF NEAR TO  
BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES IS POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO  
THURSDAY. IF TRENDS CONTINUE, A FREEZE WATCH MAY BE NEEDED FOR  
AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE FA. THE MAIN TAKEAWAY IS THAT THOSE  
WITH AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS SHOULD PREPARE TODAY FOR SEVERAL  
NIGHTS OF NEAR TO BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES.  
 

 
   
AVIATION /00Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/
 
 
MAINLY VFR CONDITIONS WITH BREEZY TO GUSTY WINDS THROUGH THE  
PERIOD.  
 
SHOWERS ASSOCIATED WITH A PASSING COLD FRONT HAVE NOW MOVED OUT  
OF THE AREA. STRONG WESTERLY WINDS, GUSTING TO 30-35 KTS (OR  
GREATER) AT TIMES THROUGH ABOUT 02Z, BEFORE GRADUALLY  
DIMINISHING THE REST OF THE NIGHT. WINDS PICK BACK UP AGAIN  
DURING THE MIDDAY HOURS. OTHERWISE, GENERALLY VFR CONDITIONS ARE  
EXPECTED TO PREVAIL THROUGHOUT THE TAF PERIOD.  
 
EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK... NO SIGNIFICANT AVIATION CONCERNS  
THROUGH THE WEEK.  
 

 
   
CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
 
 
SC...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 2 AM EDT TUESDAY FOR SCZ016-018-  
020>022-025>031-035-037-038-041-115-116-135>137.  
FREEZE WARNING FROM 4 AM TO 10 AM EDT TUESDAY FOR SCZ016-018-  
020>022-025>028-030-035-037-041-115-116-135-136.  
FREEZE WATCH FROM LATE TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING  
FOR SCZ016-018-020>022-025>031-035-037-038-041-115-116-  
135>137.  
GA...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 2 AM EDT TUESDAY FOR GAZ040-063>065-  
077.  
FREEZE WARNING FROM 4 AM TO 10 AM EDT TUESDAY FOR GAZ040-  
063>065-077.  
FREEZE WATCH FROM LATE TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING  
FOR GAZ040-063>065-077.  
 

 
 

 
 
DISCUSSION...7/EC  
AVIATION...29  
 
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