FIRST ALERT WEATHER: Rain chances going up for the holiday weekend

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Cooler and more on and off clouds for the rest of this week, then our rain chances increase this weekend.

FIRST ALERT HEADLINES

• Skies are cloudy to mostly cloudy tonight with lows in the upper 50s.
• Upper 70s Wednesday with mostly cloudy skies in the morning and some breaks by the afternoon.
• We see mid 70s Friday with mostly cloudy skies.
• A coastal low gets closer to the region and increases our chances of rain to 40% for Saturday.
• The low is sticking around Sunday and brings a 30% chance of rain.
• We see some isolated storms for Memorial Day afternoon, with a 30% chance.

FIRST ALERT WEATHER SUMMARY

We’ve got plenty of clouds tonight with low temperatures in the upper 50s. A stationary boundary to our south sticks around and we see clouds continue.

Wednesday we see some clouds in the morning and then some breaks in the clouds by the afternoon. There’s a low pressure system aloft that brings the clouds. But dry air at the surface of the earth will keep the rain at bay. High temps are in the upper 70s to low 80s.

Thursday we still have dry air in place and we see some breaks in the clouds. Skies are partly cloudy with highs reaching the low 80s. Aloft there’s still a low sitting over the region, just to the east.

What starts to happen by the weekend is called a Rex Blocking Pattern, it’s named after the meteorologist that named it. It usually occurs on the west coast of the U.S. but this time around it shifts to the east toward our region. It’s when we have high pressure to the north and a low pressure system to the south. This pattern can cause the weather not to shift for a longer than normal period of time. That’s why we’ve got this pattern of clouds, cooler weather, and eventually the chance of rain.

Friday we see more clouds with lows in the upper 50s and highs reaching the mid 70s. Skies are mostly cloudy. The air is rather dry at the surface of the Earth with lower dew points keeping the rain at bay.

Saturday we have the low pressure system move from the coast of SC and NC to the west and it brings a shield of rain to the Midlands. We will increase the chance of rain to 40% with the thought that this percentage could very well go up.

Sunday the low moves a little farther north and we have a 30% chance of rain and showers. Lows are in the upper 50s and highs reach the upper 70s.

Memorial Day we have a 30% chance of showers and storms for the afternoon hours. They look to be isolated. Lows are near 60 and highs reach the low 80s.

FIRST ALERT FORECAST

Tonight: Skies are cloudy with low temperatures in the upper 50s.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy skies give way to more sunshine in the afternoon with highs near 80.

Thursday: Partly cloudy skies with highs around 81 degrees.

Friday: Mostly cloudy with highs back to the mid-70s for most.

Saturday: Skies are cloudy with a 50% chance of showers throughout the day. Highs are in the low 70s.

Sunday: Mostly cloudy with morning lows in the upper 50s and highs in the mid-upper 70s. There’s a 40% chance of showers for the afternoon.

Memorial Day: Partly cloudy to mostly cloudy with a 40% chance of showers and storms for the afternoon. Highs are in the upper 70s.

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