Georgia Weather: Risk Of Thunderstorms, Tornadoes Increases

ATLANTA, GA — The risk for severe thunderstorms, including tornadoes, will increase Monday evening through much of north and central Georgia, according to the National Weather Service. The chance for storms around metro Atlanta will be highest from 5 p.m. until 2 a.m. Tuesday morning, the weather service said.

According to the weather service, isolated to scattered thunderstorms will develop Monday afternoon, especially south of Interstate 20. Some storms could be strong to severe with large hail, heavy rain and strong wind gusts.

Later in the afternoon and into the evening, a more organized line of severe thunderstorms will move from Alabama and into northwest and west-central Georgia, the NWS said.

"It is along and ahead of this line where all modes of severe weather exist, including tornadoes, large hail potentially greater than two inches, and damaging winds in excess of 70 m.p.h.," the weather service said in a hazardous weather outlook updated Monday afternoon. "Heavy rainfall and frequent lightning will also occur."

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Earlier Monday, the weather service had been predicting winds up to 60 m.p.h. and forecast "a few tornadoes" could blow into the metro Atlanta area.

The outlook includes counties from Macon in middle Georgia all the way up to the north Georgia mountains.

The chance of rain in metro Atlanta, which was 40 percent during the day Monday, jumps up to 80 percent Monday night. Showers and thunderstorms are expected mainly before 3 a.m., according to the weather service.

The chance of rain continues through Tuesday and into Tuesday night. But, after that, this week should be mostly sunny. Temperatures this week won't quite reach the spring-like highs we saw over the weekend, but they should be pleasant, nonetheless — although nighttime lows will get a little chilly.

Highs in the upper-60s to start the week will dip down into the upper-50s, before edging back up by the weekend. It shouldn't hit freezing any time this week, although lows are expected to drop down into the 30s several times.

Here's your work-week weather forecast for metro Atlanta, from the National Weather Service:

Monday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 67. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. Monday night, showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 3 a.m. Some of the storms could be severe. Low around 56. Southeast wind 5-10 m.p.h. becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tuesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 67. Southwest wind 5-15 m.p.h., with gusts as high as 25 m.p.h. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. A chance of showers before 2 a.m. Tuesday night, then a slight chance of rain after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. Northwest wind 15-20 m.p.h., with gusts as high as 30 m.p.h. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. Northwest wind 15-20 m.p.h., with gusts as high as 30 m.p.h. Wednesday night, mostly clear, with a low around 35.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 58. Mostly clear Thursday night, with a low around 38.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 64. Friday night, mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.