Downpours And Windy Conditions Predicted Overnight Thursday For North GA

ATLANTA, GA – Heavy showers and strong wind gusts are in North Georgia’s future as a storm system from the west brings the threat of tornadoes, forecasters said.

Beginning Thursday afternoon, rainfall will grow denser gradually becoming storms overnight and into early Friday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

“There's definitely a much higher chance of some thunderstorms that have gusty to damaging winds,” National Weather Service meteorologist Lindsay Hochstatter told Patch. “But we can't say for certain that there won't be a tornado or two.”

In the northernmost corner of Georgia, there is a possibility for winds gusting up to between 50 and 60 mph in isolated rainstorms, forecasters said. More commonly across North Georgia, winds could reach up to 30 mph and could continue even after precipitation stops Friday morning, according to weather experts.

While no severe weather watch or warning has been issued, forecasters expect the greatest chances for high winds and heavy storming in counties west of I-75, Hoghstatter said.

The weather system causing that activity will be moving southeast and will dissipate as it moves east of the I-85 corridor, she said. By between 5 and 7 a.m., the chance for storms should end and Friday will be a “spring-like” day with clear, windy conditions, she said.

Here's the latest look ahead to the weekend forecast for the Atlanta region from the National Weather Service:

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers after 4 pm. Cloudy, with a high near 72. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Thursday Night: Showers and thunderstorms before 3 am, then a slight chance of showers between 3 am and 4 am. Low around 46. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. Northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 32.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 58.

Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 34.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 63.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 43.