South Carolina will continue experiencing unsettled weather over the weekend and next week. Tropical moisture from the Gulf of Mexico will keep the shower and thunderstorm activity in place, mainly moving from south to north across the state throughout the weekend.
This moisture is courtesy of several systems. First, we have a stationary front that has started to move and retract to the east. We also have another low-pressure system, which is meandering across the Florida span handle and will continue to bring in lots of deep tropical moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. This system comes with a warm front first on Sunday and Monday, and then the actual low-pressure system will push through the Carolinas onto the mid-Atlantic states. We expect conditions to dry out briefly by the middle of next week.
Rainfall will stay higher across the Lowcountry and the Pee Dee, while the Midlands will stay with moderate rain. Across the Midlands, anywhere between 2 and 4 inches is possible, with some isolated spots that could receive up to 5 inches. As across the coastal regions, rainfall should range between 4 and 6 inches, with some areas accumulating around 8 inches in some spots.
This rainfall could help the drought situation, especially in southeastern South Carolina, which continues to be at least under a moderate drought. The coastal area also has a chance of flash floods. The ground is so compacted due to the moderate and severe drought levels that any high rainfall in a short time will struggle to drain. Please stay away from flooded roadways and stay tuned to the radar and local road closures. It could be isolated, strong thunderstorms pushing through. Remember, if you hear thunder, make sure you head indoors.
