GA A Potential Target For Strong Storms Amid Tropical Wave In Atlantic

GEORGIA — While a potential tropical storm may target the East Coast, more scattered storms are expected to arrive in Georgia Tuesday afternoon.

A tropical wave several hundred miles east of the Lesser Antilles Tuesday morning has a 60 percent chance of strengthening within the next seven days, according to the National Hurricane Center.

With AccuWeather forecasters eyeing the potentially tropical storm brewing in the Atlantic Ocean, the weather officials surmise the East Coast could be threatened should the storm land in the northern Caribbean.

The other projection centers on if the storm moves southward of the big islands, AccuWeather said. Should this occur, forecasters said the Gulf Coast could be a later target.

If it does develop into a tropical storm, it would be Debby, the fourth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.

The National Weather Service's predicted rainfall continues the pattern of daily storms spanning at least the past couple of weeks in Georgia.

The NWS forecasted possible strong to severe storms could produce damaging winds in north and central Georgia. Frequent lightning and flash flooding could also be expected.

In the days to come, the aforementioned hazards could be products of scattered storms, which may make an appearance daily through Monday, the NWS said.

Storms could start after 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Savannah area and follow the same daily pattern as the remainder of Georgia.

As in recent weeks, the Peach State combats storms and heat. Parts of central and eastern Georgia is under a heat advisory until 8 p.m. Tuesday due to hot temperatures and high humidity, the NWS said.

The advisory was issued for Clarke, Oconee, Muscogee, Wilkes, Morgan, Greene, Talbot, Jefferson, Glascock and multiple other counties. Heat indices of up to 107 degrees are expected in these counties.

Elsewhere in north and central Georgia, including in metro Atlanta, heat index values could reach 110 degrees Wednesday-Sunday. This excludes mountains, the NWS said.

In Savannah, heat indices could meet or exceed 108 degrees most of the week, the NWS said. Weather officials added heat advisories or excessive heat watches or warnings could possibly be issued sometime through the remainder of the week.

Around 11:40 a.m. Tuesday, the National Weather Service predicted the following detailed forecast for metro Atlanta:

Today: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Heat index values as high as 102. West wind 5-10 mph.

Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. West wind around 5 mph.

Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 105. West wind around 5 mph.

Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 7 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. West wind around 5 mph.

Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m. Mostly clear, with a low around 76.

Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Sunny, with a high near 96.

Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8 p.m. Mostly clear, with a low around 75.

Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.

Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.

Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.

Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.

Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.

Patch editor Tiffany Razzano contributed to this report.