Record-setting heat possible in SC soon, NWS says. Here’s when, how hot it may get
Are you ready for summer yet? Even though it’s still April, an intense heatwave is heading toward the East Coast this week and into the weekend, and is likely to bring summerlike temperatures to millions in South Carolina.
High pressure off the Carolina coast will pump warm air across the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, building the warmth that will continue through the middle of the week and into the weekend, according to AccuWeather, a commercial weather forecasting service.
Meteorologists at the National Weather Service said in a briefing that it may get so hot that it’ll possibly set a new record for April.
Here’s how hot it may get in SC:
Forecasted maximum temperatures
Typically, the Palmetto State’s average highs are in the mid-to-upper 70s, and lows are in the 50s. In six Columbia areas, temperatures are expected to reach 95 degrees by Saturday. These areas include:
- Augusta
- Bamberg
- Barnwell
- Camden
- Columbia
- Saint Matthews
Many other cities and towns in SC are forecast to be nearly as hot, with temperatures pushing into the low-to-mid 90s by the end of the week. Here’s the list of the hottest locations in the Columbia area:
Temperatures should cool down by Sunday and Monday, as a cold front will likely move through the region on Sunday and replace the heatwave.
Drought conditions in SC
Millions of people continue to live in moderate to extreme drought conditions in SC, and it’s not expected to get better anytime soon.
No part of the Columbia area is drought-free, and 94.55% of the region is experiencing at least a moderate drought, a near 16% increase from last week.
There’s a small chance of light rain on Sunday. Besides that, there’s little chance of rain over the next couple of weeks, so conditions will likely continue to worsen. Here’s a map of the drought-struck regions in the Columbia area:
