COLUMBIA, S.C. — Seasonably cool and dry conditions will persist over the next several days before the weather pattern shifts. Temperatures will warm up next week.
Today Through Tonight
Today will feature near-normal temperatures with dry conditions. A high-pressure system will dominate at the surface, while upper-level air flows steadily from the west. A shortwave disturbance moving east from Texas will increase high cloud cover over the area.
While these clouds may limit some of today’s warming, temperatures are expected to be slightly warmer than Thursday, ranging from the mid-50s in the northern Midlands to the lower 60s in the southern parts of the area.
Tonight, temperatures will drop to the mid-to-upper 30s as clouds clear during the pre-dawn hours. Atmospheric moisture will increase slightly, but it will remain too low to produce any precipitation.
Saturday Through Sunday Night
Saturday will bring dry and near-normal weather. Temperatures will range from the mid-50s in northern areas to the mid-60s in southern regions. A strong high-pressure system will remain over the Mid-Atlantic and Carolinas, moderating temperatures and preventing significant warming despite some shortwave ridging.
By Sunday, a slight chance of rain emerges, mainly in northern counties. Most of the precipitation is expected to remain light if it falls at all. Cloud cover will increase Saturday night and linger into Sunday, accompanied by slightly warmer temperatures. Lows for both nights will range from the low to mid-40s. Winds will continue from the northeast, keeping the region cooler.
Monday Through Thursday
Next week looks more active, with warmer temperatures and occasional rain chances. Models predict above-average temperatures early in the week, with highs in the mid-60s to low 70s and lows in the 50s.
A weak front may pass near the region on Tuesday, but significant rainfall is unlikely as the system’s main energy stays to the north. Toward the end of the week, a deep trough is expected to form in the eastern United States, bringing cooler weather and increased chances for rain.
The timing and amounts of rainfall remain uncertain, but confidence is growing in a shift toward cooler, wetter conditions by late next week.