The hottest air mass of the 2021 calendar year may set a few records across the Palmetto State next week.
A powerful ridge of high pressure is expected to dominate the Southeastern United States, and will be the primary catalyst for the hot temperatures. The gusty east wind from the Atlantic for much of the past week has prevented the mercury from getting far above mid-May average temperatures. A change in the position of the high pressure ridge will cause the winds to blow from the northwest Sunday and Monday. Northwest winds in the winter months often supply chilly temperatures, but the strong sun angle in late May and the wind blowing off the land often give temperatures a big boost in the warmer months of the year.
Highs are forecast to reach into the mid and upper 90s Sunday through at least Wednesday. Greenville and Columbia are both forecast to be within 1 degree of their record highs on Monday. Additional record highs are possible much of next week.
Very dry air in the atmosphere will transfer to the ground each afternoon, so the dew point and relative humidity will be far below mid-summer norms for South Carolina. Little rain is forecast through next week, which will likely exacerbate the moderate drought conditions occurring in the Pee Dee and Grand Strand areas based on the latest NOAA Drought Monitor.
