Wind Advisory Issued For GA Ahead Of Showers, Thunderstorms

GEORGIA — Amid a drop in temperatures, several Georgia counties were placed under a wind advisory Monday ahead of showers and possible thunderstorms forecast for this week.

Southeast winds are expected to be 15-20 mph with wind gusts up to 35 mph in parts of north central and west central Georgia, according to the National Weather Service's Peachtree City office.

However, southeast winds could climb up to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph possible in north central, northeast and northwest Georgia.

"Locally stronger gusts in mountainous terrain may be possible," the National Weather Service said in the alert.

Forecasters urge people to be mindful of that gusty winds could potentially blow around unsecured objects, and tree limbs could come down. Power outages could occur.

Drivers, especially those of high-profile vehicles, are asked to use extra precaution, the weather service said.

The wind advisory is set to expire at 2 p.m. Tuesday. It was issued for the following counties: Dade, Walker, Catoosa, Whitfield, Murray, Fannin, Gilmer, Union, Towns, Chattooga, Gordon, Pickens, Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Floyd, Bartow, Cherokee, Polk, Paulding, Cobb, Haralson, Carroll, Douglas, Forsyth, Fulton, Heard, Coweta, Troup, Meriwether, Harris, Talbot, Muscogee, Chattahoochee, Marion, Schley, Stewart, Webster and Sumter.

Additionally, residents in a number of these counties - including Gwinnett and DeKalb - are warned of high fire danger conditions.

"Sustained winds of 15-25 mph can be expected along with gusts of 25-35 mph. Some areas of high terrain may see gusts up to 50 mph. Relative humidities will likely stay above 25 percent, though some locations in the northeast Georgia mountains may reach critical minimum relative humidity thresholds for a few hours this afternoon. With dry fuels, high fire danger conditions can be expected. Please refer to your local burn permitting authorities whether you may burn outdoors. If you do burn outside, use extreme caution," the weather said in a special weather statement.

Monday has a low temperature of 54 degrees and a high of 63 degrees, foreshadowing what is to come through Tuesday night. The decline is expected to continue with a low of 48 degrees and a high of 73 degrees Wednesday, and a low of 42 degrees and a high of 65 degrees Thursday.

Showers, along with scattered and isolated thunderstorms, are anticipated to ramp up Tuesday morning through Thursday afternoon in north and central Georgia. As of early Monday, the chance for severe thunderstorms remained low.

Starting Tuesday night, the rainfall is forecast to head Savannah's way through Thursday night.

As of around 10:15 a.m. Monday, the National Weather Service predicted the following detailed forecast:

Today: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63. East wind 15-20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. Southeast wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.

Tuesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 64. Southeast wind 15-20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night: Showers before 9 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m., then a chance of showers after 3 a.m. Low around 53. Northeast wind 5-10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.

Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly before 9 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 73. North wind around 5 mph.

Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 48.

Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers before 3 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 65.

Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 42.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 69.

Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 46.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 76.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 51.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.