Lightning To Strike With Daily Storms As Memorial Day Approaches In GA

Memorial Day celebrants are being warned of lightning as daily storms are in the forecast into next week for Georgia.

Patch on Wednesday spoke with Dylan Lusk, a senior meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Peachtree City office, who said the storms are set to hit between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Wednesday in metro Atlanta.

The storms could linger into Wednesday evening. Areas west of the I-85 corridor have the most significant chance of downpour, Lusk said.

However, storms could hit the mountains and in other areas surrounding metro Atlanta. Rain chances are lowered for areas further south, Lusk said.

The forecast showed Georgia may be wet and dreary through at least Tuesday. The weather pattern will raise both the moisture level and rain chances, Lusk said.

Though "any thunderstorms around here have the chance to produce a quick wind gust," he said the storms will be standard and are not expected to become severe. They will be "light, typical summer pop-up thunderstorms."

"That's the good news with this, right now, is that it doesn't look like we're going to have a severe organized weather day," Lusk said.

Echoing the sentiment meteorologists have been reporting amid the wildfires the last few weeks, Lusk said the impending storms will help with the drought, though it will not eliminate it.

"It will keep things from getting worse," he said. "We're going to need much more than a week of rain."

He noted the Peach State will need to experience "a month's worth of sustained rainfall" before fully escaping the drought.

With this, Lusk sent a warning to anyone celebrating the Memorial Day weekend hiking or spending time at parks, the mountains or beaches.

"If thunder roars, go indoors," he said. "If you can hear lightning, it's close enough to strike you."

Here is the National Weather Service's late Wednesday morning forecast for metro Atlanta:

Today: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. South wind around 5 mph.

Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 5 a.m., then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.

Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 a.m., then a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Friday: 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 likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. South wind 5-10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Friday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 a.m., then a chance of showers. Low around 68. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.

Saturday: A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 8 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Saturday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 a.m., then a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Sunday: A chance of showers before 8 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Sunday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 a.m., then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Memorial Day: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Monday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.