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Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued for North Georgia

Dramatic storm clouds gathering over North Georgia landscape

News Summary

Residents in North Georgia are under a severe thunderstorm watch as isolated storms are predicted this evening. The watch includes multiple counties with warnings of damaging wind gusts, hail, and potential tornadoes. Weather experts advise caution as storms are expected to impact the northern and central regions, leading to a heightened risk for flooding and hazardous driving conditions.

Atlanta, Georgia – A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for most of North Georgia, including a large number of counties, as isolated storms are forecasted to develop throughout the evening. This watch will remain in effect until midnight, with the National Weather Service (NWS) warning residents of the potential for damaging wind gusts and hail.

The counties under the severe thunderstorm watch include Banks, Towns, White, Cherokee, Dawson, Fannin, Forsyth, Gilmer, Hall, Lumpkin, Pickens, Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Gordon, Murray, Walker, Whitfield, and Union.

Weather experts predict that isolated severe storms will bring wind gusts of up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail to these areas. There is also a possibility of a brief tornado forming as the storms approach. The forecast anticipates that storms will start hitting the northern and central regions of North Georgia before 10 p.m. on Monday.

Earlier in the day, some parts of metro Atlanta experienced morning showers, setting the stage for later storm activity. The NWS has classified the weather risk as a Level 1 marginal risk for severe weather, which includes not only metro Atlanta but also surrounding areas such as Barrow, Bartow, Cherokee, Clarke, Douglas, Hall, Oconee, Muscogee, and Paulding counties.

In addition to the storm risk, the NWS has issued warnings regarding persistent rainfall which may lead to flooding threats in both north and central Georgia. This could exacerbate conditions on the roadways and in low-lying areas throughout the region.

Looking ahead to the next few days, scattered thunderstorms are expected on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons and evenings, with showers likely moving into the metro area before 11 a.m. Tuesday. The daily weather breakdown for metro Atlanta is detailed below:

Today: Chance of showers and thunderstorms before 3 p.m., likely showers and thunderstorms from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., with a high near 77°F and a 60% chance of precipitation.
Tonight: 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 a.m., low around 60°F.
Tuesday: Chance of showers before 11 a.m., likely showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m., high near 75°F, and a 70% chance of precipitation.
Tuesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 8 p.m., low around 61°F, and an 80% chance of precipitation.
Wednesday: Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11 a.m., mostly sunny, high near 82°F, 20% chance of precipitation.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, low around 65°F.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, high near 88°F.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, low around 70°F.
Friday: 20% chance of showers after 2 p.m., high near 89°F.
Friday Night: 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms, low around 70°F.
Saturday: Likely showers and thunderstorms, high near 87°F, with a 60% chance of precipitation.
Saturday Night: 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, low around 67°F.
Sunday: 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mostly sunny, high near 87°F.

The FOX 5 Storm Team continues to monitor the severe storm threat throughout the night. Meteorologists have indicated there is a low risk for tornadoes as the weather system affecting Georgia moves south and east. Currently, severe weather warnings are in place in areas across the Tennessee Valley and Kentucky where damaging wind gusts and hail are expected.

As the week progresses, the severe weather threat might extend into early Friday morning, though calmer conditions are anticipated once the storms pass. Additional rain is forecasted for the weekend, which may further affect flooding conditions in susceptible areas.