Weather Watch: Hot Storms in the Upstate and a New Tropical System

What’s Happening with the Weather Today?

Imagine the weather is like a pot of water heating up on the stove. Today, the Upstate area gets hot and sticky (we call that humid).

• Today and tomorrow will be hot and humid.
• It will feel like the temperature is near 100°F (triple digits) because of the heat plus sticky air.
• There may be a few lone storms (we call these isolated storms).
• If a storm pops up in all this heat, it could bring:
  • Strong winds
  • Heavy rain

Important: Any storm that forms in this heat could have strong winds and heavy rain, so stay alert!

Tuesday and Wednesday: Wind and a Cold Front

Think of a “cold front” like a invisible line where cooler air pushes in and shoves the hot air away.

• Tuesday: It gets breezy. Wind gusts (quick strong bursts of wind) may reach 25 mph.
• This breezy weather happens before a cold front shows up Wednesday.
• Right now, the cold front is expected after sunset on Wednesday. That timing helps lower the chance of really bad storms.
• Even so, we should expect:
  • Damaging wind gusts
  • Lots of lightning
  • Heavy rain
• The chance of a tornado is low, but not zero (meaning it’s unlikely but still possible).

Important: Tornado risk is small, but not impossible. Keep an eye on weather updates.

A New Tropical System Called “Bertha”

Far south in the Gulf of Mexico, a spinny rain system is forming.

• A system named “Bertha” is expected to form today.
• Tropical Depression Two (a weak spinning storm over warm ocean water) has already formed in the Gulf.
• It may get a little stronger as it moves west.
• Areas along the Gulf Coast and Texas might see tropical storm conditions (wind and rain from a warm-ocean storm).
• The biggest worry there is flash flooding (rain that fills streets with water very fast).

Helpful Weather Tools You Can Use

Want to see the rain yourself or check your local alerts? Here are some easy links:

• Track rain and storms on the interactive radar here
• Check the latest alerts in your area here
• Watch live skycams from around the Carolinas here
• Get your hour-by-hour and extended forecast here

About the WYFF News 4 Weather Team

Think of this like a report card for weather stations. An outside group checked who got the forecast right most often.

• The WYFF News 4 weather team was certified as having the most accurate forecast in the Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville-Anderson area for the second year in a row.
• WYFF 4 President and General Manager Blake Bridges said: “Our goal every day, in every forecast, is accuracy. Our expert weather team is dedicated to giving viewers a forecast they can trust to be right. We are also the only station in the market with our own 24/7 live radar, Live Super Doppler 4. It’s clear that WYFF News 4 is the weather leader in this market.”
• The certification comes from WeatheRate, a separate company that compares forecasts from many TV stations.
• WeatheRate President Bruce Fixman said the Upstate and mountains make forecasting hard, but Chief Meteorologist Chris Justus and the WYFF News 4 team got it right more than anyone else.

Summary

To wrap it up like a simple story:

1. Today and tomorrow are hot, humid, and stormy in the Upstate.
2. Tuesday gets breezy; a cold front comes Wednesday evening and may calm the worst storms.
3. Storms could still bring strong wind, lightning, and heavy rain; tornado chance is low but not zero.
4. Down south, “Bertha” and Tropical Depression Two may bring flash flooding to the Gulf Coast and Texas.
5. The WYFF News 4 team is independently rated as the most accurate weather team in the region for two years straight.

FAQ

Q1: What does “feel-like temperature near triple digits” mean?
A: It means the air temperature plus the sticky humidity makes it feel like it is around 100°F, even if the thermometer shows a bit less.

Q2: Is a tornado going to happen for sure?
A: No. The tornado threat is low, but not zero, so it is very unlikely but still good to stay informed.

Q3: What is a cold front?
A: A cold front is like a boundary where cooler, drier air moves in and pushes away the hot, humid air, often causing storms as it passes.

Q4: Why is “Bertha” a concern if I don’t live near the Gulf?
A: You may not be directly affected, but Gulf storms can change weather patterns. The main local concern listed is flash flooding for the Gulf Coast and Texas.