Strong thunderstorms could develop along a cold front Friday afternoon as it slides through the Midlands and Lowcountry.
Surface analysis late Thursday evening shows a cold front draped across the Ohio and Tennessee River Valley. Ahead of the slowly sagging cold front, severe thunderstorms could bring damaging winds to the I-95 corridor from Philadelphia to Washington, DC. The cold frontal system is expected to move into the Upstate Thursday into Friday, bringing the risk of damaging winds from Columbia to Charleston by the end of the work week.
Model guidance indicates the potential for strong thunderstorms along and east of I-77 by Friday afternoon. Storms will likely initiate during the early afternoon across the Midlands. Storms are expected to congeal into thunderstorm clusters by sunset, with the worst weather remaining along and east of I-95. Damaging winds are going to be the primary risk for Friday's severe weather across the Midlands and Lowcountry ahead of the approaching cold front. Storm chances should diminish for areas away from the coastline by Saturday, but most models indicate a resurgence of thunderstorm activity as the cold front stalls along the coast.
The risk of severe weather is on the lower end, with a "marginal" risk of severe weather expected Friday. As a reminder, this risk is a 1 on a scale of 1-to-5 and typically indicates an isolated risk for severe weather.