Amid daily storms that are expected to barrel through Georgia this week, weather officials are monitoring a tropical system that could impact portions of the South.
The National Hurricane Center is eyeing a tropical depression in the Gulf that could soon transition into a tropical storm. At its 10 a.m. Monday update, the agency said the depression was located about 120 miles south of Panama City, Florida.
Forecasters have dubbed the system Tropical Depression Two. If it becomes a tropical storm, the system will be named Bertha, according to AccuWeather.
TD Two could bring "torrential rain, flooding, gusty thunderstorms and building seas" along areas west of the Gulf this week, AccuWeather reported.
The system has prompted a storm surge watch from the Alabama-Florida border to the Mississippi River in Louisiana. Additionally, a tropical storm watch was issued for the Mississippi and Louisiana coasts.
Patch spoke with forecasters about what a potential tropical storm could mean for Georgia.
Meredith Wyatt, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Peachtree City office, said the system is expected to push westward across the northern Gulf.
As of early Monday, there were no anticipated impacts to north and central Georgia. However, portions of south Georgia could experience an uptick in cloud cover and possibly more rain than other areas.
Be that as it may, sweltering heat and downpours continue to ramp up in Georgia. The NWS predicted daily rounds of storms, starting after 4 p.m. Monday.
"With any thunderstorms, we can expect frequent lightning, maybe some gusty winds," Wyatt said. "... Given the summertime pattern that we're in, it's possible some storms can drop some heavy rainfall."
As of Monday morning, flooding was not a primary threat as in recent days.
RELATED: Flooding Threat Looms For GA With Tropical Storm Likely In Gulf
The summer rain may primarily impact areas south of I-20 in the afternoons. The storms could last for the next five to seven days, Wyatt said.
"Any thunderstorm that develops is going to produce lightning for sure," she said.
There were no expectations of widespread severe weather as of Monday.
However, Georgia will continue to bake due to temperatures in the low to mid-90s daily. Heat indices, or "feel-like" apparent temperatures, will hover in the upper 90s to low 100s, Wyatt said.
Here is the National Weather Service's Monday morning forecast for metro Atlanta:
Today: A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4 p.m. Sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 99. South wind around 5 mph.
Tonight: A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m. Mostly clear, with a low around 75. South wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Heat index values as high as 99. South wind 5-10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. South wind 5-10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Southwest wind 5-10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.
Thursday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 8 a.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.
Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m., then a slight chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.
Friday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.
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