Expect more heat, some showers and thunderstorms, this weekend in York County area

Much of the Rock Hill area has missed the drenching rains in nearby locations this week, but forecasters say the Fathers Day weekend will bring plenty more opportunities for showers and thunderstorms.

And the heat, which produced Rock Hill’s first 90-degree weather of the year this week, also is expected to continue.

Showers and thunderstorms have developed in the humid atmosphere the last three days, but less than .05 of an inch has been reported in York County, including official gauges at the Rock Hill Airport and in Tega Cay. Up to a half-inch has been reported at the airport in Lancaster.

But much heavier amounts – up to 3 inches – have fallen in the late-afternoon and evening storms this week in southeast Mecklenburg County.

“A typical humid summertime air mass remains in place,” said Andrew Kimball, of the National Weather Service office in Greer. “So expect another round of scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms from this afternoon through evening.”

Rock Hill recorded a high of 91 degrees on Wednesday and Thursday, and more of the same is expected Friday.

The weekend is forecast to bring more of the same, although meteorologists say cloud cover could hold high temperatures Saturday and Sunday into the upper 80s. Humidity levels will be very high, however, so don’t expect a break from the summer-like conditions.

Saturday could bring an even higher chance of showers and thunderstorms, as a weak low pressure system moves across the area, adding to the unstable conditions.

A break in the pattern could be coming Tuesday. A cold front is forecast to cross the Carolinas later Monday (bringing another high likelihood of thunderstorms), followed by less-humid and storm-free conditions Wednesday and next Thursday.

Another potential wrinkle in the weather pattern is far off to our south.

The National Hurricane Center says there is a 50 percent chance of low pressure forming in the southern Gulf of Mexico early next week and then drifting northward toward the U.S. Gulf Coast. It is far too early to predict what part of the United States – if any – would be affected.

But as the Weather Service’s Pat Moore said Friday, “It is that time of year when we need to start looking toward the tropics.”

This story was originally published June 16, 2017 at 10:41 AM with the headline "Expect more heat, some showers and thunderstorms, this weekend in York County area."