SCEIN

SCEIN — COVID-19 could be more infectious and deadly than the flu, but only time will tell if the contagion is seasonal.

The rapid spread of the virus has created an urgent need for researchers to find links to its spread. One possible factor is the climate.

Uncertainty on climate’s role

The first case of the virus was detected and reported to the World Health Organization’s China office on Dec. 31, 2019.

The second weekend of spring will feel more like the start of summer across the Palmetto State, and numerous record highs are even likely to be broken.

A sprawling dome of high pressure is forecast to build across the Southeast in the coming days, which will promote sinking air and abnormally warm temperatures for this time of year.

Southwesterly winds near the ground will also allow warm, dry continental air to move into the Midlands and Upstate regions, which will allow the warmth to spread farther inland.

The latest batch in the seemingly endless waves of heavy rainfall that have moved across the state this winter is on track to move through Tuesday afternoon into Tuesday night.

Several more rounds of rain are on the way to the Palmetto State, adding to the record wet winter many areas of the state have officially recorded.

Another round of rain is expected across the Palmetto State Monday night and Tuesday, which could cause already swollen rivers to rise again.

Rain had already overspread much of South Carolina Monday, and with plenty of moisture streaming in from the Gulf of Mexico and a strong jet stream overhead, another inch or two is likely to fall before a front moves through the state Tuesday.

UPDATE: A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for Chesterfield, Lancaster, York, and Cherokee counties, valid from early Thursday morning through late Thursday night. 

It has been a mild and wet winter thus far in the Palmetto State. The “wet” is not likely to go away this week, but enough “cold” could make the weather interesting Thursday into Thursday night.

Update as of 8:30 AM Thursday

A line of strong thunderstorms, which prompted The National Weather Service to issue Severe Thunderstorm Warnings for Anderson, Pickens, and Oconee counties early Thursday morning, is moving eastward through the Upstate. Strong winds in the lower part of the atmosphere may transfer to the ground as the line of heavy showers and a few thunderstorms move through the state today. For this reason, the Storm Prediction Center has issued a “marginal risk” (a level 1 out of 5) for severe storms over the state today.

Update as of 3:00 PM Tuesday:

The National Weather Service has canceled the Flash Flood Watch it had in effect over the Upstate. Scattered showers or an isolated strong thunderstorm are still possible Tuesday evening thanks to the passage of a weak front. Overall, a brief period of drier weather is expected on Wednesday before another cold front arrives late Wednesday night and Thursday with more widespread rain and thunderstorms.

Update as of 10:30 AM Tuesday:

A new Tornado Watch has been issued for the South Carolina Midlands until 8 PM. The watch includes the Columbia metropolitan area, Orangeburg, Sumter, and North Augusta. A line of severe thunderstorms, which has produced significant wind damage and possible tornadoes in the Spartanburg area this morning, is accelerating eastward. The line is forecast to reach the Columbia metro area between 3 and 5 PM and Sumter and Florence between 5 and 7 PM.

Update as of 10:30 AM:

A Tornado Watch is in effect until 5 PM for the entire upstate of South Carolina and for a portion of the Midlands to the west of Columbia. The watch includes Rock Hill, Greenville, Spartanburg, and Anderson. A line of thunderstorms, with damaging wind and embedded tornadoes, is approaching from the west late this morning through mid-afternoon in these areas.

Update as of 6:15 AM:

Multiple weather-related hazards are possible Wednesday night and Thursday over a large portion of the Palmetto State.

First round Wednesday night

An increasingly warm and humid air mass will surge northward across the state Wednesday afternoon into Thursday. A fe showers may develop as soon as Wednesday morning, especially over the Upstate and Midlands. The showers and thunderstorms are then likely to become more widespread Wednesday night.

A powerful storm is expected to move through the Central U.S. Saturday, sending a squall line of destructive storms through the Mid-South and dumping heavy snow on the Upper Midwest. The system is likely to weaken considerably before reaching South Carolina, but it still might be capable of producing a few severe thunderstorms upon its arrival late Saturday night.

Update as of 10:30 AM Monday:

Heavy rain has overspread much of the Palmetto State and it’s expected to last into early Tuesday morning resulting in a significant risk for flash flooding.

Swaths of heavy rain are expected to spread across the Palmetto State over the weekend. The rain will be heavy enough to cause river and street flooding, but there are still questions as to which parts of the state will see the greatest amounts.

Heavy rain over spread much of the Palmetto State on Friday, prompting the issuance of Flood Advisories and Warnings near the Columbia and North Augusta areas. Data from Doppler radar and rain gauges indicate that 2 to 4 inches of rain has accumulated over the Midlands through early Friday afternoon. Meanwhile, 1 to 3 inches has fallen over the Upstate. Amounts so far have been less than an inch over most of the Pee Dee, Grand Strand, and Lowcountry.