GA Memorial Day Weather Forecast: Storms, Rain Could Dampen Holiday

ATLANTA, GA — Depending on what you’ve got going on for the upcoming three-day Memorial Day Weekend, long regarded as the unofficial start to summer, you may have to plan around unpredictable weather conditions in Georgia.

Some parts of the country will continue to dodge storms and others will be hot and sweltering, the private weather company AccuWeather said Monday in its Memorial Day weekend forecast.

In Georgia, scattered thunderstorms are expected every day, starting Thursday and ending Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

A hazardous weather outlook was in effect for a majority of the state Thursday, according to the NWS. In its latest forecast, the NWS said scattered thunderstorms are expected across portions of north Georgia on Thursday. A few storms on Thursday afternoon and evening may become strong to severe and will be capable of producing gusty winds, hail, frequent lightning, and heavy rainfall.

Scattered thunderstorms are also expected Friday through Tuesday, with the greatest potential for storms across areas of north Georgia, forecasters said. A few storms on Saturday and Sunday afternoons could be severe.

On Sunday night into Monday, forecasters said strong to severe thunderstorms could become more organized and numerous ahead of a cold front moving into the state.

In the Atlanta area, temperatures will remain in the upper 80s through the weekend and could reach 90 degrees on Sunday.

Here’s a look at NWS Atlanta’s detailed forecast for Memorial Day weekend:

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Southwest wind around 5 mph.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southwest wind around 5 mph.

Saturday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.

Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.

Memorial Day: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Some 43.8 million Americans are expected to travel to celebrate Memorial Day. Here’s a look at what they can expect, according to AccuWeather:

Sections of the central U.S. pummeled by strong storms and rain probably won’t get much of a break, according to the AccuWeather forecasters. Travel could be affected by the heavy rains associated with these storms, which have a history of producing strong winds, hail and flooding.

“While each day will not be a washout everywhere, and some locations will be fortunate enough to miss thunderstorm activity Saturday through Monday, there will be areas that get doused on more than one occasion across the Plains states,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Renee Duff said in the forecast.

The Upper Mississippi Valley, the Great Lakes could see showers and thunderstorms throughout the weekend, with the storms moving into the Northeast and Southeast by Monday and potentially disrupting memorial services and outdoor cookouts.

Temperatures should be fairly pleasant in mid-Atlantic states, with highs in the 80s, 70s and even 60s at some points during the holiday weekend.

Locations from the Gulf Coast to the Desert Southwest are expected to see temperatures in the 90s or even higher in some parts of Texas.