Update AFD Area Forecast Discussion — Tue Apr 7, 2026 2:54 PM

AFDCHS

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston SC
232 PM EDT Tue Apr 7 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
All sections.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
- 1) There is an elevated fire danger through mid week.

- 2) There is a High Risk of rip currents at all area beaches
  through Wednesday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1: There is an elevated fire danger through mid
week.

Dry high pressure will continue building in from the north and
west through late week. Mid-20s dewpoints Wednesday afternoon
across inland areas will produce critical RH of 20-30%. NE winds
15-20 mph with some gusts to 25 mph will combine with the low RH
to create an increased fire danger. A Fire Danger Statement
continues until 7pm this evening and we`ll likely need another
one on Wednesday.


KEY MESSAGE 2: There is a High Risk of rip currents at all area
beaches through Wednesday.

Increasing NE winds and building swells will result in a High Risk
for rip currents at all area beaches through Wednesday. High
Risk for rip currents will likely continue into Thursday at all
area beaches.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
VFR will prevail. The main challenge is determining the wind
speeds/gusts. Any wind gusts this afternoon should briefly
settle down this evening. A tighter pressure gradient will
develop after midnight during which time we expect increasing
wind speeds with some gustiness. Fairly breezy conditions
expected during the day Wednesday with sustained winds 15-20 kt
and gusts to 25 kt.

Extended Aviation Outlook: VFR. Breezy NE winds continue into
Thursday.

&&

.MARINE...
High pressure will strengthen inland tonight and into Wednesday
producing an increasingly pinched gradient across the local waters.
This setup will yield increasingly hazardous marine conditions
across all the local waters for an extended period of time with
significant improvement in winds and seas not expected through
Friday. Gale Warnings remain in effect for all waters (outside
Charleston Harbor), beginning first in the outer GA waters this
afternoon then expanding into the nearshore waters by midnight. The
Gale Warnings then remain in effect until early Thursday. Wind gusts
to around 40 knots are expected, with a few gusts approaching 45
knots possible at times. Charleston Harbor will even be close to
gale force gusts Wednesday morning, and it is possible that a short-
lived Gale Warning could be needed there as well. Furthermore, some
model guidance would suggest that gales for the waters could
continue into Thursday afternoon across the existing warning area,
and it is possible that the current warnings could need to be
extended in time.

The potential for gales diminishes greatly by Thursday evening and
once the Gale Warnings come down, they will need to be replaced by
Small Craft Advisories. Winds will likely come down below Small
Craft Advisory thresholds on Friday, but seas could remain quite
elevated through Saturday.

High Surf: With very strong northeast winds across the coastal
waters, seas are expected to significantly build tonight and into
Wednesday. There is an increasing probability for 5+ ft breakers in
the surf zone, and a High Surf Advisory is now in effect from 8 am
Wednesday through 8 pm Thursday. At least minor beach erosion can be
expected with the combination of strong and persistent northeast
winds with 5+ ft breakers in the surf zone.

&&

.CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...High Risk for Rip Currents through Wednesday evening for GAZ117-119-
     139-141.
     High Surf Advisory from 8 AM Wednesday to 8 PM EDT Thursday
     for GAZ117-119-139-141.
SC...High Risk for Rip Currents through Wednesday evening for SCZ048>051.
     High Surf Advisory from 8 AM Wednesday to 8 PM EDT Thursday
     for SCZ048>051.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from midnight tonight to 8 PM EDT
     Thursday for AMZ330.
     Small Craft Advisory until midnight EDT tonight for AMZ350-352-
     354.
     Gale Warning from midnight tonight to 2 AM EDT Thursday for
     AMZ350-352-354.
     Gale Warning until 2 AM EDT Thursday for AMZ374.

&&

$$