Area Forecast Discussion

KEY MESSAGES

- Largely dry weather will prevail amid above-normal temperatures through the next several days.

- Warm conditions are expected to continue with precip chances returning this weekend.

SHORT TERM

(Today through Wednesday) Issued at 224 AM EDT Tue Sep 15 2026

The overhead core of an abnormally strong mid-level ridge (approaching 600 dam, some 3 standard deviations above average) and cold air damming at the surface will compete against one another regarding sensible weather impacts today and tomorrow. Strong subsidence will continue to suppress meaningful rain chances, though a couple of showers and thunderstorms are possible later today, filtering through our building easterly flow. Winds will be breezy this afternoon, and highs will remain similarly hot (in the 90s areawide), just a tick "cooler" than yesterday. Increased mixing within the wedge zone will help tamp down on dewpoints, preventing more oppressive heat from being realized.

For Wednesday, broad scale changes to our presiding flow pattern will be minimal to negligible, with conditions expected to mirror today: hot, breezy, and dry for most. A comparatively much drier airmass will filter in on the easterly winds characteristic of the wedge airmass (dewpoints in the upper 50s to 60s), keeping "feels like" temperatures within a couple degrees of air temperatures -- once again in the 90s.

LONG TERM

(Wednesday night through Monday) Issued at 224 AM EDT Tue Sep 15 2026

The extended forecast for North and Central Georgia remains largely uneventful. Subsidence associated with mid-level ridging and a surface high extending up the East Coast should largely suppress any meaningful precipitation for most through Thursday. Global models and ensembles suggest ridging at the mid-levels begins to gradually break down/retrograde leading to eventual return of moisture by the weekend into early next week. Precipitation chances remain low (30 percent or less) through Saturday, but we're likely to see chances increase slightly early next week (30-40 percent) as southerly flow strengthens. As far as temperatures go, the heat will stick around with us for a little while longer. Temperatures are forecast to rise into the 90s each afternoon (70s/80s in the mountains) and fall to the 60s/low 70s each night/early morning.

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 142 AM EDT Tue Sep 15 2026

VFR conds to continue thru the TAF pd. FEW-SCT cu at 3-5kft will return this aftn. Winds will be breezy out of the E, at 5-10kts with ocnl gusts up to 15-20kts.

//ATL Confidence...06Z Update... High confidence all elements.

96

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

FFC WATCHES / WARNINGS / ADVISORIES

None.