505  
FXUS62 KCAE 310541  
AFDCAE  
 
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC  
141 AM EDT FRI JUL 31 2026  
   
WHAT HAS CHANGED  
 
APPROACHING FRONTAL BOUNDARY THIS WEEKEND BRINGS CHANCES FOR  
RAIN BACK TO THE AREA, BUT HIGHEST AMOUNTS LOOK TO BE TO OUR  
WEST. AVIATION DISCUSSION UPDATED FOR 06Z.  
 
 
   
KEY MESSAGES  
 
- 1. DRY CONDITIONS CONTINUE THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK.  
 
- 2. RAIN CHANCES RAMP BACK UP THIS WEEKEND INTO EARLY NEXT  
WEEK AS A MORE TYPICAL SUMMERTIME PATTERN RETURNS.  
 
 
   
DISCUSSION  
 
- 1. DRY CONDITIONS CONTINUE THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK.  
 
A SURFACE HIGH LOCATED OVER THE SOUTHERN GREAT LAKES REGION IS  
FORECAST TO DRIFT EASTWARD THROUGH THE DAY TODAY, ALLOWING DRY  
AIR TO REMAIN OVER OUR AREA. PWATS OF UNDER AN INCH HAVE MOVED  
THEIR WAY INTO THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL MIDLANDS. EXPECT PWATS  
TO REMAIN NEAR AN INCH THROUGH THE DAY. DEW POINTS ARE FORECAST  
TO BE SIMILAR TO THURSDAY, WITH AFTERNOON VALUES DROPPING TO THE  
MID TO UPPER 50S TO LOWER 60S. AS A RESULT, ANOTHER MILD LATE-  
JULY DAY IS IN STORE FOR THE AREA.  
 
- 2. RAIN CHANCES RAMP BACK UP THIS WEEKEND INTO EARLY NEXT  
WEEK AS A MORE TYPICAL SUMMERTIME PATTERN RETURNS.  
 
AN UPPER TROUGH OVER THE UPPER MIDWEST AND ASSOCIATED SURFACE  
FRONT ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE TOWARD THE AREA FOR THE WEEKEND INTO  
NEXT WEEK. AS THEY DO, MOISTURE INCREASES SIGNIFICANTLY,  
ESPECIALLY SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY AS PWATS ARE FORECAST TO  
TOP THE 2" MARK. HOWEVER, GUIDANCE KEEPS THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY TO  
THE WEST, KEEPING A MAIN TRIGGER FOR FOCUSED PRECIPITATION TO  
OUR WEST AS WELL. ENSEMBLE PROBABILITIES KEEP RELATIVELY LOW  
(~10-20% DEPENDING ON MODEL SUITE) CHANCES OF GREATER THAN 2" OF  
RAIN THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THAT SAID, WITH THE HIGH PWATS AND  
SOUTHWEST FLOW, WILL NOT BE SURPRISED TO SEE LOCALIZED AMOUNTS  
OVER 2" AS ANY ACTIVITY THAT DEVELOPS SHOULD BE EFFICIENT RAIN  
MAKERS. AFTER THE WEEKEND, MORE TYPICAL DIURNALLY DRIVEN  
ACTIVITY IS ANTICIPATED THROUGH MIDWEEK AS RESIDUAL MOISTURE  
HANGS AROUND THE AREA.  
 
 
   
AVIATION /03Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/  
 
VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED THROUGH THE TAF PERIOD.  
 
WEAK HIGH PRESSURE IN PLACE OVER THE REGION SHOULD KEEP FAIR  
WEATHER THROUGH THE FORECAST PERIOD WITH GENERALLY LIGHT WINDS  
LESS THAN 5 KNOTS. SOME HIGHER CLOUDS MAY PASS OVER THE REGION  
AFTER 18Z WITH SOME DIURNAL CUMULUS BUT VFR CIGS EXPECTED  
THROUGH THE PERIOD. CARRYING VARIABLE WIND DIRECTION GIVEN THE  
LIGHT NATURE OF THE WIND BUT IT COULD VARY FROM EASTERLY THROUGH  
SOUTHWESTERLY AT TIMES. PREDAWN FOG/STRATUS NOT EXPECTED.  
 
EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...RAIN AND RESTRICTIONS BECOME  
INCREASINGLY LIKELY THIS WEEKEND AND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK.  
 
 
   
CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES  
 
SC...NONE.  
GA...NONE.  
 
 
 
 
 
DISCUSSION...29  
AVIATION...23  
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