After sunny skies Thursday in metro Atlanta, lightning-producing storms are expected to batter Georgia in coming days, according to the forecast.
Thunderstorms will form in south-central Georgia on Thursday afternoon before later arriving in other portions of the state, disturbing clear skies for the metro, the National Weather Service's Peachtree City office reported.
The storms will not be alone. According to the NWS, they could be accompanied by locally heavy rainfall, frequent lightning and gusty winds.
The downpour is expected to last through the weekend in Georgia and may drop an inch of rainfall in some areas. North and west Georgia could be subjected to 2.5 inches of rainfall, the NWS reported.
This may drive localized flash flooding; and, in this instance, the NWS advises people to not attempt to drive through flooded waters on the roads.
The heat will continue to be a concern through Monday due to well above-normal temperatures, according to the NWS. Apparent temperatures will hover at or near 100 degrees.
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 Thursday afternoon forecast for metro Atlanta:
This Afternoon: Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 97. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 98. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.
Saturday: A chance of showers before 11 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. High near 89. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent.
Saturday Night: Showers and thunderstorms before 11 p.m., then a chance of showers between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 a.m. Low around 72. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.
Sunday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 a.m., then a chance of showers between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.
Sunday Night: A chance of thunderstorms before 8 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Sunny, with a high near 92.
Monday Night: A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m. Mostly clear, with a low around 72.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 90.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly clear, with a low around 71.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
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