Monday evening forecast
The FOX 5 Storm Team is tracking powerful storms moving through North Georgia to start this workweek. Here’s the latest.
ATLANTA – A potent line of severe storms is tracking across North Georgia Monday night, prompting weather officials to issue watches and warnings for dozens of local counties.
The National Weather Service placed much of the region under a severe thunderstorm watch until 11 p.m. Monday as the system threatens communities with damaging straight-line winds, torrential downpours and an isolated tornado risk.
Storm threat levels
What we know:
A severe thunderstorm watch is officially in effect until 11 p.m. Monday for a large portion of North Georgia. Forecasters warned that the primary hazards with this atmospheric setup are intense wind gusts, frequent lightning and heavy rainfall that could trigger localized flash flooding. While the main energy is concentrated along the state line, a brief, isolated tornado cannot be completely ruled out in the far northwestern corner of Georgia.
The watch affects the following partial list of counties: Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Dade, Dawson, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Lumpkin, Murray, Pickens, Towns, Union, Walker, White, and Whitfield.
Storm threat increases Monday evening
What we know:
FOX 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Johnathan Stacey warns that the atmosphere is primed for a busy evening as the weather setup shifts into a more active phase. “The severe thunderstorm watch has expanded as far to the east as Union, Towns, Habersham, and White counties,” Stacey said.
Stacey also noted that while the initial line of storms tracks along the state line, a secondary flare-up is anticipated closer to the urban core later tonight. “I think the skies will flare up again, say around 10 o’clock, and it looks like the metro area gets in on the action as a line moves in during the darkness of night,” Stacey added.
Storm arrival times
Timeline:
A multi-wave storm setup will bring distinct timing windows for different parts of the region tonight.
- Now through 9 PM: Initial discrete storm cells and a cluster tracking out of North Alabama will impact the state line counties of far North and Northwest Georgia.
- 9 PM to Midnight: A cohesive, multi-county line of storms is expected to develop and push southward into the Atlanta metro area.
- Midnight to 2 AM Tuesday: The storm line will track south and east of Interstate 20, gradually weakening as it loses the energy from afternoon heating.
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Behind the weather
Big picture view:
An approaching atmospheric cold front is interacting with a highly unstable, moisture-rich airmass over the Deep South. Even though daytime heating will fade after sunset, the upper-level dynamics and frontal forcing are strong enough to sustain a potent line of storms well into the overnight hours.
Regional weather impacts
Local perspective:
Locally heavy downpours will accompany the strongest storm cells tonight. Most areas in the storm paths can expect quick rainfall amounts between a half-inch and three-quarters of an inch, though training storms could easily dump higher totals in localized spots, elevating the flash flooding risk.
Why you should care:
With a level 2 out of 5 severe weather threat, the primary concern is the potential for intense straight-line wind gusts. These winds can easily down tree limbs, snap power lines, and cause isolated power outages. Homeowners should take a moment to secure loose patio furniture, trash cans, and outdoor decorations before the main line arrives tonight.
Seven-day outlook
By the numbers:
Metro Atlanta 7-Day Forecast:
- Tonight: Low 69 | Showers and thunderstorms early
- Tuesday: High 83 | Low 63 | Partly sunny and clearing
- Wednesday: High 86 | Low 68 | Completely sunny
- Thursday: High 87 | Low 70 | Scattered afternoon storms
- Friday: High 88 | Low 71 | Scattered afternoon storms
- Saturday: High 88 | Low 72 | Mostly sunny
- Sunday: High 89 | Low 73 | Sunny and hot
North Georgia 7-Day Forecast:
- Tonight: Low 58 | Showers and thunderstorms early
- Tuesday: High 79 | Low 58 | Mostly sunny and cooler
- Wednesday: High 81 | Low 63 | Sunny skies
- Thursday: High 83 | Low 65 | Slight chance of storms
- Friday: High 84 | Low 67 | Scattered afternoon storms
- Saturday: High 84 | Low 67 | Scattered afternoon storms
- Sunday: High 85 | Low 68 | Mostly sunny
Clearing things out
What’s next:
The severe weather threat will exit to the east and diminish entirely during the early morning hours on Tuesday. A drier, more comfortable airmass will settle over North Georgia behind the cold front, setting up a beautiful, rain-free stretch of weather for mid-week before temperatures climb again.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from the FOX 5 Storm Team.
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