GA Weather Forecast: Thunderstorms Then Frigid Temps By Weekend

ATLANTA, GA — North Georgia weather will give residents whiplash the next few days, with heavy rain in the next 24 hours, highs climbing into the mid-60s on Friday and then a plunge to frigid temperatures with lows in the 20s this weekend.

Thunderstorms are expected Wednesday throughout much of North Georgia with the expectation that the hazardous weather will taper off to just showers by Thursday morning, forecasters said.

The National Weather Service predicts an 80 percent chance of rain through the morning with between a tenth and a quarter of an inch of precipitation. But periods of thunderstorms and heavy rainfall could lead to localized flooding, forecasters warn.

Also expect winds between 10 and 15 mph with the chance of periodic wind gusts of up to 20 mph, forecasters said.

Accuweather predicts temperatures will reach a high of 62 on Wednesday as the chance of rain diminishes going into the evening.

The trend for rain will continue to decrease as the weekend approaches, but a national cold front moving from the central U.S. threatens to defy Georgia Groundhog Day star Gen. Beauregard Lee’s hint toward a shorter winter with temperatures dropping into the 20s Saturday night, the National Weather Service predicts.

Here's the latest forecast:

Wednesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 9 am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 9 am and 11 am. Patchy fog before 11 am. High near 59. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers after 3 am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight.

Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60. East wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. East wind around 5 mph.

Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 1 pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 65. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Friday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 37. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 41.

Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 24.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 53.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 34.