057  
FXUS62 KCAE 190024  
AFDCAE  
 
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC  
824 PM EDT MON MAY 18 2026  
   
WHAT HAS CHANGED
 
 
RAIN CHANCES FOR LATE THIS WEEK AND THIS WEEKEND CONTINUE  
ALTHOUGH COVERAGE COULD BE LOWER THAN BLENDED GUIDANCE  
INDICATES. AVIATION DISCUSSION UPDATED FOR 18Z TAF ISSUANCE.  
 

 
   
KEY MESSAGES
 
 
- 1. ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES LIKELY THROUGH MID-WEEK.  
 
- 2. RAIN CHANCES INCREASE LATE WEEK AND INTO THIS WEEKEND.  
 

 
   
DISCUSSION
 
 
KEY MESSAGE 1: ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES LIKELY THROUGH MID-  
WEEK.  
 
ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES LIKELY THROUGH THURSDAY WITH HIGHS IN  
THE LOW TO MID 90S EXPECTED AND NO OR VERY LITTLE CONVECTIVE  
COVERAGE EACH AFTERNOON. PWAT VALUES WILL BE SLIGHTLY BELOW TO  
AROUND NORMAL THROUGH WEDNESDAY SO HEAT INDEX VALUES WILL NOT  
RISE TO ADVISORY THRESHOLDS. HOWEVER, EARLY SEASON HEAT CAN  
CONTRIBUTE TO AN INCREASED RISK OF HEAT-RELATED ILLNESS.  
 
KEY MESSAGE 2: RAIN CHANCES INCREASE LATE WEEK AND INTO THIS  
WEEKEND.  
 
ON AVERAGE, MODEL GUIDANCE SHIFTS HIGH PRESSURE EASTWARD LATE  
THIS WEEK, LEADING TO INCREASING MOISTURE OVER THE SOUTHEAST  
FROM THURSDAY THROUGH MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND. PWAT VALUES RISE TO  
JUST ABOVE NORMAL FOR THE SEASON. HOWEVER GEOPOTENTIAL HEIGHTS  
FROM THE NAEFS ARE ALSO AROUND NORMAL. THIS WOULD POINT TO A  
SEASONAL SETUP FOR SCATTERED AFTERNOON CONVECTION, POSSIBLY  
ENHANCED TO OUR NORTH AND WEST WITH SHORTWAVE ENERGY RIDING OVER  
THE RIDGE. POPS FROM BLENDED GUIDANCE SHOW VALUES ABOVE WHAT ARE  
CLIMATOLOGICALLY FAVORED AND COULD BE TOO HIGH GIVEN THE  
SYNOPTIC SET UP.  
 

 
   
AVIATION /00Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/
 
 
VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED THROUGH MUCH OF THE FORECAST PERIOD WITH  
THE EXCEPTION OF BRIEF RESTRICTIONS POSSIBLE TUESDAY MORNING.  
 
DIURNAL CUMULUS CLOUDS CONTINUE TO DIMINISH WITH THE LOSS OF  
DAYTIME HEATING. SOUTHERLY WINDS AROUND 5 TO 8 KNOTS WILL  
GRADUALLY BECOME LIGHT AND VARIABLE TO CALM BY 06Z. SIMILAR TO  
PREVIOUS NIGHTS, ABUNDANT LOW LEVEL MOISTURE WILL PROVIDE  
FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR POSSIBLE BRIEF PREDAWN FOG/STRATUS.  
CONFIDENCE IS LIMITED HOWEVER WITH MIXED SIGNALS IN THE GUIDANCE  
SO WILL ONLY INCLUDE IN A TEMPO GROUP FOR NOW ALL TERMINALS,  
THOUGH AGS MAY HAVE PREVAILING MVFR VSBYS AFTER 08-09Z. WINDS  
SHOULD PICK BACK UP BY MID MORNING FROM THE SOUTH AROUND 5 TO 7  
KNOTS WITH MAINLY DIURNAL CUMULUS CLOUDS AGAIN.  
 
EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...INCREASED MOISTURE MAY RESULT IN  
BRIEF RESTRICTIONS AT THE TERMINALS DUE TO LOW CLOUDS AND/OR FOG  
EACH DAY THIS WEEK. RAIN CHANCES INCREASE TOWARDS THE END OF  
THE WEEK.  
 

 
   
CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
 
 
SC...NONE.  
GA...NONE.  
 

 
 

 
 
DISCUSSION...CJR  
AVIATION...23  
 
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