Christmas Day: Turning unsettled as a storm system affects the area
Hello everyone, Jared Smith here with your Charleston weather forecast for Christmas Day, Monday, December 25th, 2023, and looking into the rest of the final week of 2023 as well.
Christmas Day will be another unseasonably warm day as we start in the mid-50s before warming into the low 70s in the afternoon.
We could start with a few isolated to scattered showers on Christmas morning, but the rain threat increases as we head into the afternoon and evening hours.
Some of the rain could be heavy at times, but a widespread flooding issue is not expected on Christmas Day.
There is, however, the potential for some coastal flooding in the morning that’ll put saltwater on some of the more vulnerable roads in downtown Charleston.
High tide peaks around 630am, and the total water level forecast is currently right at flood stage, which is 7 feet mean low or low water in Charleston Harbor.
The flood threat should be relatively limited, but there could still be some saltwater to contend with early Christmas morning, so if you have plans to drive around the Citadel or MUSC, just keep an eye on that.
But the good news is, barring a freak shower at the wrong time, the rain and this tide are not going to coincide.
Unfortunately, a greater flooding risk could develop on Tuesday morning, as onshore winds look to continue to send water levels above flood stage again, this time around the 714am high tide.
Showers and maybe a few thunderstorms are likely to be in the area at this time as well, and if the rain is heavy enough, this could broaden the flood risk across more of downtown Charleston.
We’ll keep an eye on this potential as it unfolds, but I would be making plans for disrupted traffic on Tuesday morning if you are commuting.
Showers and a few thunderstorms, some heavy at times, will remain in the area for much of Tuesday.
Regardless of what transpires flooding-wise, be ready for the typical rain-related traffic problems as a result.
Temperatures will continue to run well above normal, expect lows in the low 50s to yield to highs around 70 in the afternoon, despite the rain.
As we get past sunset, we should start to see rain begin to taper off as low pressure begins to move away.
That will likely do it for precipitation for 2023 as drier air wrapping around the low pushes into the area for Wednesday.
Cloud cover will slowly scour out, and temperatures will remain generally above normal for one more day as we can expect highs to head back towards 70.
Cooler air will move in behind a reinforcing front on Thursday, and temperatures will run closer to normal as a result.
Expect the day to start in the mid to upper 40s and highs to top out in the low 60s under partly cloudy skies.
Even cooler air will push into the area for Friday and the weekend as a cut-off mid-level low drifts across the southeast US.
Expect lows in the mid 30s and highs in the 50s Friday through Sunday.
We look to remain precipitation-free as we ring in 2024 on Sunday night.
And that was Charleston Weather Daily for December 25th, 2023.
I’m Jared Smith.
You can find Charleston weather forecasts online at chswx.com, on Mastodon at chswx at chswx.social, on Instagram and Facebook at chswx, and on BlueSky at chswx.com.
Thanks for listening, have a merry and safe Christmas holiday, and I’ll talk to you tomorrow.