Severe Weather Outbreak Expected West of Georgia Today

An outbreak of severe thunderstorms is expected this afternoon and evening across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, where the Storm Prediction Center has issued a Moderate Risk (level 4 of 5). While the main threat area is west of Georgia, this system needs to be closely monitored tomorrow for any lingering severe thunderstorms that may track into Georgia late Wednesday night through Thursday.

In the Moderate Risk area, tornadoes and strong damaging winds are likely, including the potential for strong (EF2+) tornadoes and significant gusts over 75 mph. The line is expected to move through Louisiana and Mississippi tomorrow afternoon and early evening. It is then forecast to move through Alabama as a weakening line of storms later tomorrow evening before entering western Georgia after midnight into early Thursday morning.

The main window for any strong to severe storms in Georgia would be early Thursday morning for western portions of the state and later Thursday morning and afternoon for the remainder of Georgia. SPC has issued a Slight Risk (level 2 of 5) for most of Georgia on Wednesday evening through Thursday evening. A cold front will bring gradual clearing from west to east throughout the day on Thursday before pushing the broken line of storms off the coast Thursday evening.

Storms coming today and next week!

A strong storm system will move through Georgia today, bringing the potential for severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. Damaging thunderstorm winds and a few tornadoes will be the primary threats with any severe thunderstorms that develop.

A squall line will begin to move through North and Central Georgia within the next couple of hours, and Severe Thunderstorm Warnings could be issued with this line. The severe weather risk appears to be greatest this afternoon and evening across southern Georgia, particularly in Southwest Georgia, where the Storm Prediction Center has issued an Enhanced Risk (level 3 of 5). These storms will likely develop later this afternoon and evening and could produce strong damaging winds, large hail, and potentially strong tornadoes. Thunderstorm activity should diminish by late this evening.

As the cold front moves through Georgia tomorrow, some redevelopment of strong to severe thunderstorms is possible across southeastern Georgia. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Slight Risk (level 2 of 5) for strong winds, isolated tornadoes, and large hail tomorrow across southeastern Georgia.

Another strong storm system is expected to move through Georgia on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday next week. A lot of uncertainty still exists in the forecast, but strong to severe thunderstorms appear possible again mid-week. Please stay tuned to forecast updates from your local National Weather Service office for the storms today and tomorrow as well as next week’s system.

Will Lanxton
Meteorologist
GEMA/HS

Severe and Winter Weather Likely Friday and Saturday

A strong low-pressure system will move across the Southeast tomorrow and Saturday, bringing severe weather to South and Central Georgia and winter weather to North Georgia.

Showers and storms will start to overspread southern Georgia throughout the day tomorrow. A few of these storms could be strong during the day, but the greatest severe weather threat will be late Friday night through Saturday morning. These thunderstorms overnight Friday into Saturday morning could pose a significant damaging wind and tornado threat. The Storm Prediction Center has issued an Enhanced Risk (level 3 of 5) for portions of southern Georgia, indicating confidence that a severe weather event will occur Friday night and Saturday morning across southern Georgia and potentially into Central Georgia.

Behind the cold front, some accumulating snowfall is expected across far northern Georgia on Saturday morning. A rain/snow mix is likely to move into Northwest Georgia after midnight and continue across the higher elevations throughout Saturday morning. Snowfall amounts of up to 1 inch are possible across far North Georgia with higher amounts possible in the highest elevations.

Please continue to monitor the forecast from your local National Weather Service office. With the potential for severe thunderstorms to move through during the overnight hours, please ensure that you are able to receive warnings while asleep via weather apps, NOAA weather radios, and/or Wireless Emergency Alerts.

It’s fixin’ to be rainy season, and March is flood safety month! Read more on ready.gov

https://www.ready.gov/floods