GA Endures Fire Danger, Flooding Ahead Of More Storms

GEORGIA — The Peach State will be afforded a slight break from the wet weather before another round of storms are expected to arrive later in the week.

But beforehand, residents in north and west Georgia are urged to be mindful of high fire danger conditions existing Monday afternoon and into evening, according to the National Weather Service.

The dangerous conditions are due to low relative humidity levels, weather officials said.

Impacted counties include Bartow, Cherokee, Forsyth, Hall, Barrow, Clarke, Oconee, Douglas, Fulton, Henry, Troup, Oglethorpe, Banks, Jackson and other counties.

"Relative humidities of 25 percent or less can be expected for four or more hours this afternoon into the evening. Winds will be NW at 5-10 mph. With dry fuels, high fire danger conditions can be expected," weather officials said in a special statement.

Residents are asked to check their local burn permissions, and are asked to use extreme caution if they burn outdoors, weather officials said.

Also, some rivers continued to flood after last week's bouts with storms in Georgia.

Weather officials said parts of the Ocmulgee, Oconee, Flint and Chattahoochee rivers were flooded across central Georgia and were expected to remain flooded through the night hours.

"Please use caution around flooded areas, and do not drive through any flooded roadways," weather officials said in its hazardous weather outlook.

A flood warning will be constant in the Columbus area until 12:30 a.m. Thursday due to minor flooding of the Chattahoochee at 14th Street. Muscogee, Lee and Russell counties are affected by the flooding.

"At 28 feet, minor flooding continues along the river upstream and downstream from the gage on the 14th Street bridge. Portions of the River Walk in Columbus will be flooded around 1-foot deep and closed to the public. The Phenix City Amphitheater on the Alabama side will begin to flood," weather officials said in the alert.

The sun shall shine in Georgia through Thursday before storms are expected to return after 3 a.m. Friday, according to the weather service's forecast.

The rainfall was expected to continue across the state through Sunday. Weather officials said the probability of severe weather was low as of early Monday.

As of around 1:30 p.m. Monday, the National Weather Service predicted the following detailed forecast:

This Afternoon: Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. Northwest wind around 5 mph.

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 40. West wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 69. West wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. Southwest wind around 5 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 73. Southwest wind 5-10 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 77.

Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59.

Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 8 a.m. High near 72. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.

Friday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8 p.m. Low around 58. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.

Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72.

Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55.

Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 69.