Marine Weather Net

Murrells Inlet to South Santee River SC Marine Forecast


TODAY

NE
WINDS
15 - 20
KNOTS

TONIGHT

N
WINDS
15 - 20
KNOTS

THU

NW
WINDS
15 - 20
KNOTS

THU NIGHT

N
WINDS
20 - 25
KNOTS

The Marine Weather Forecast In Detail:
AMZ256 Forecast Issued: 613 AM EST Wed Feb 19 2025

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING
Today...Ne Winds 15 To 20 Kt, Becoming N 20 To 25 Kt This Afternoon. Gusts Up To 30 Kt. Seas 3 To 5 Ft. Wave Detail: Ne 5 Ft At 5 Seconds And Se 2 Ft At 9 Seconds. A Chance Of Rain This Morning, Then Rain This Afternoon With Vsby 1 To 3 Nm.
Tonight...N Winds 15 To 20 Kt With Gusts Up To 25 Kt. Seas 3 To 5 Ft. Wave Detail: Ne 5 Ft At 6 Seconds And Se 2 Ft At 9 Seconds. Rain, Mainly In The Evening.
Thu...Nw Winds 15 To 20 Kt With Gusts Up To 25 Kt. Seas 3 To 5 Ft. Wave Detail: Ne 4 Ft At 7 Seconds And Nw 3 Ft At 3 Seconds.
Thu Night...N Winds 20 To 25 Kt. Seas 3 To 5 Ft. Wave Detail: N 4 Ft At 5 Seconds And Se 2 Ft At 8 Seconds.
Fri...N Winds 15 To 20 Kt, Diminishing To 10 To 15 Kt In The Afternoon. Gusts Up To 25 Kt. Seas 3 To 5 Ft. Wave Detail: N 4 Ft At 5 Seconds And Se 1 Ft At 8 Seconds.
Fri Night...N Winds 10 Kt. Seas 2 Ft. Wave Detail: N 2 Ft At 5 Seconds And Se 1 Ft At 9 Seconds.
Sat...Ne Winds 5 To 10 Kt. Seas 2 Ft.
Sat Night...E Winds 5 Kt, Becoming N After Midnight. Seas 2 Ft.
Sun...N Winds 5 To 10 Kt. Seas 2 To 3 Ft.
Sun Night...Nw Winds 5 To 10 Kt. Seas 2 Ft.
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Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
635am EST Wednesday Feb 19 2025

Synopsis
Low pressure will pass to the south and east through tonight while colder air moves in from the north causing some wintry precipitation later today into Thursday morning. Mainly dry and much colder weather is expected late in the week as Canadian high pressure builds in from the west. A warming trend will then kick off early next week with dry weather expected.

No major updates outside of some tweaks for the next couple hours. Some light showers are making their way onshore and through the area from south to north. Updated 12Z aviation discussion below.

Near Term - Through Tonight
Approaching offshore low pressure bringing in increased moisture will make for a period of freezing rain from this afternoon through tonight. Rain chances will increase from the coast towards inland through the morning, but we'll only start seeing those lower temperatures once the system is to our E/NE and colder air starts to wrap around the back of it. This will result in a transition from rain to freezing rain. From the previous forecast, ice accumulation has gone up slightly for our area prompting an expansion of the winter weather advisory into more of our NE SC counties sans coastal Georgetown. Some hi-res guidance is coming in with much higher totals to our NE, but have opted to only marginally increase totals above a tenth of an inch for our NE counties. Elsewhere, ice accumulation should be between a trace to up and around 0.05", with generally decreasing totals the further SW in the CWA. As the system continues off to the E/NE overnight, precipitation chances will shift offshore and come to an end late tonight as dry air pools in and PWATs (Precipitable Waters) fall to near 0.5". Have lowered highs and lows from guidance for today to near the 25th percentile. Highs will occur early today as the low pushes by from the SW, temps in the mid 30s inland and upper 40s at the coast. Tonigheights lows will be in the mid to upper 20s.

Short Term - Thursday Through Friday Night
Key Messages: *Very light wintry precipitation possible Thu AM *Below normal temps through the period w/ wind chills at or below 15 degrees likely Thu night into early Fri

Confidence: *Moderate to High

Details: *Although surface low pressure offshore will be moving farther away Thu, trailing shortwave energy aloft will keep the risk for some light wintry precipitation Thu AM, mainly in the form of freezing rain/drizzle or even snow if the moisture is deep enough. Temperatures should start rising above freezing by mid-morning in SC and late morning in NC, although could stay around freezing into early afternoon across far northern/western areas closer to the SC Pee Dee/NC Sandhills. So motorists should use extra caution in these areas, especially if driving on elevated roadways such as bridges and overpasses. Highs Thu should not get much warmer than 40 for most of the area, especially inland. This will set the stage for a very cold night with lows near 20 for much of the area away from the immediate coast early Fri. Some wind will make it feel even colder with wind chills as low as about 10-15 degrees and thus a Cold Weather Advisory is likely. Slightly warmer temps are expected Fri with highs generally in the mid 40s with plenty of sun. Rather ideal radiational cooling conditions should occur Fri night as high pressure moves more overhead, although the amount of higher clouds will likely determine just how favorable conditions are. Some of the normally colder spots such as Back Island could drop into the mid to upper teens but should stay above Cold Weather Advisory thresholds for the most part.

Long Term - Saturday Through Tuesday
Key Messages: *No significant weather anticipated

Confidence: *Moderate to High

Details: *High pressure should generally prevail with mostly dry weather and slowly moderating temps. Low pressure could develop offshore this weekend leading to mainly some coastal showers but overall no significant rain chances are expected. Temps should be below normal through the weekend before getting back closer to normal Monday with highs in the lower 60s.

Marine
Through Tonight
SCA (Small Craft Advisory) conditions will become established through the morning from NE to SW as NE winds increase to 15-20 kts with higher gusts ~30 kts. 6 ft seas may stick to the NC coastal waters but they are possible around 20nm offshore from our SC coast. Degraded conditions will continue through the period as offshore low pressure moves from the SW to our NE tonight, winds becoming more N/NW by the end of the period.

Thursday through Sunday...Moderate to High confidence. Low pressure will be moving farther off to the NE Thu allowing high pressure to build in leading to improving conditions. A Small Craft Advisory is likely later Thu into early Fri. Benign conditions should then persist into early next week assuming possible low pressure offshore Sunday stays far enough east of the area.

NOAA Wilmington NC Office: Watches - Warnings - Advisories
NC...Winter Weather Advisory from 1pm this afternoon to 10am EST Thursday for NCZ087-096-099-105>110. SC...Winter Weather Advisory from 1pm this afternoon to 10am EST Thursday for SCZ017-023-024-032-033-039-054-055-058-059.

Marine
Small Craft Advisory until 7am EST Thursday for AMZ250-252- 254-256.