A cold front pushing southward is expected to propel Georgia into a severe storm pattern Monday, conjuring 60 mph winds that could lead to power outages.
This came from National Weather Service meteorologist Ryan Willis, who told Patch the storm threat could arise late afternoon and into the evening.
The NWS has placed metro Atlanta and towns northward under a Level 2 slight risk for severe thunderstorms.
Cities under a Level 1 marginal risk for severe storms include Macon, Griffin, LaGrange, Thomaston, Sandersville, Dublin and Madison.
Heavy rainfall and gusty winds up to 60 mph could accompany the menacing weather, Willis said. Monday evening into nightfall could bring the most strong or severe risks after around 7 p.m. Monday and through at least 1 a.m. Tuesday.
The high winds may be enough to topple trees and power lines, possibly causing power outages in impacted areas, Willis said.
Localized flash flooding is a secondary concern, specifically in north Georgia where storms could repeatedly travel across the same areas, Willis said.
There is a chance the NWS will be prompted to issue watches or warnings due to the storms, he added.
Once the storms pass, drier weather will prevail Tuesday and Wednesday.
Temperatures will warm up to heat indices in the high 90s to low 100s in Georgia. On Monday, apparent temperatures will near triple digits in metro Atlanta while surpassing 100 degrees in towns further south.
Rain chances will return Thursday and Friday. The "scattered summertime variety" storms are not expected to be severe, Willis said.
Updates will be posted on the weather service's Twitter page, the weather service's Facebook page and its website.
Here is the National Weather Service's Monday afternoon forecast for metro Atlanta:
This Afternoon: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Southwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 2 a.m., then a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southwest wind 5-10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tuesday: A slight chance of showers before 2 p.m., then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 2pm and 3 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
Thursday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8 a.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8 a.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
Friday Night: A chance of thunderstorms before 8 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Saturday Night: A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly clear, with a low around 73.
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