A high-pressure system located just over the state and slowly moving to the northeast will continue to bring winds mainly from the south-southeast. These winds will bring warm temperatures, with the highest forecast to reach the low 80s across much of the state on Friday afternoon. The pressure gradient, which means the pressure difference between the high-pressure system to the east and a low-pressure system moving closer to us from the west, will increase the winds even more on Friday. Gusts could surpass 25 mph across the eastern half of South Carolina, while stronger gusts are expected across the upstate and more so in the mountains.
The dry conditions will persist until the end of the week and even through much of the weekend. A cold front will be approaching from the west late on Sunday. This cold front will increase the chance for rains to finish off the weekend into the beginning of the week. The rain will move from west to east, and we can expect a scattered thunderstorm. Overall, rain is highly welcomed as the state continues to be under abnormally dry conditions, and at least 32% of the state is under a moderate drought.
A state-wide burn ban will likely continue through much of the weekend. Please avoid any activities that involve fires or sparks. Humidity levels will remain low, even with the winds coming in from the south-southeast, and the strong winds could quickly make any fires uncontrollable.
Remember that South Carolina’s wildfire season is happening right now and usually persists throughout April. It's wildfire season, and all the vegetation that fell during Helene fuels the wildfires across South Carolina. The current drought that the entire state is experiencing doesn't help either. Currently, the South Carolina Forestry Commission shows 30 active wildfires across the State, with most contained except 3. Two still not contained and burning uncontrollably are in Update; one in Pickens County and the other in Greenville County, each burning 4,556 and 1553 acres, respectively. There are evacuation orders in effect for the Pickens and Greenville fires. The other active fire is not completely contained in Horry County in the Pee Dee and has burned over 2,000 acres. This one is 80% contained.
