National Weather Service Atlanta

North Georgia freeze warning issued for Saturday includes Cobb

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North Georgia freeze warning

If you think it was chilly when you woke up this morning, wait until Sunday. The National Weather Service in Atlanta has issued a freeze warning for most of north Georgia, including Cobb County.

Around 10 a.m. today, the NWS issued the warning from 9 p.m. Saturday through 10 a.m. Sunday, with overnight temperatures possibly dipping into the 20s.

The freeze warning area runs along and north of a line from LaGrange to Griffin to Covington and Washington.

In Cobb, temperatures dropped into the high 30s last night, with highs today only in the low 50s. That’s also the forecast for Sunday afternoon, but not before low temperatures tonight are expected to be around freezing.

Adding to the chilly conditions are winds that could reach gusts of 15 mph during the day today. They will fade on Sunday, according to the NWS, but rain is expected late Sunday night and through Monday.

After warmer, but often rainy, weather this week, the freeze warning signals a return to colder weather for most of next week.

Tuesday is expected to be rainy all day, and with the lower temperatures there is the chance of more freezing conditions, with lows possibly falling under 32 overnight.

High temperatures aren’t likely to get much higher than the low 50s until the end of the week, with clear and sunny skies.

 

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Georgia state of emergency declared ahead of Hurricane Florence

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Hurricane Florence, Georgia state of emergency

Early Wednesday afternoon Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency for the entire state, including Cobb County, as Hurricane Florence nears landfall along the coast of the Carolinas.

Most of Georgia is included in a cone of possible impact from the powerful storm, which has been downgraded to Category 3 but that is expected to cause significant damage as it moves off the Atlantic Ocean.

Those threats include flooding from heavy rains, along with high winds, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington, N.C.

The storm, which is estimated to be 40 miles wide, with tropical winds extending for around 350 miles, is projected to strike somewhere the North Carolina-South Carolina border late Friday afternoon.

Florence could stall before that and may even move in a southerly direction before reaching the coast, possibly restrengthening to Category 4.

The threat to Cobb and metro Atlanta, if any, is expected to be minimal and would come by Sunday and Monday.

The emergency declaration enables the state to mobilize resources across Georgia to react where they may be needed.

Here’s what Gov. Deal said in issuing his emergency declaration:

“In light of the storm’s forecasted southward track after making landfall, I encourage Georgians to be prepared for the inland effects of the storm as well as the ensuing storm surge in coastal areas. GEMA/HS continues to lead our preparedness efforts as we coordinate with federal, state and local officials to provide public shelter and accommodate those evacuating from other states. Finally, I ask all Georgians to join me in praying for the safety of our people and all those in the path of Hurricane Florence.”

No evacuations have been ordered along the Georgia coast, but the effects of the storm could be felt there by Thursday evening.

According to the National Weather Service in Atlanta, the metro area will have clear skies for the rest of the work week, with a slight chance of thunderstorms on Saturday.

By Sunday night, the chance of rain is forecast to be 40 percent, and up to 50 percent Monday and Tuesday.

The NWS office in Atlanta adds that:

“After landfall, there is great uncertainty as to where Florence will go but there are increased indications that the remnants of Florence could affect at least portions of north and central Georgia late Saturday through Tuesday. The situation continues to be a watch and monitor, so please stay tuned to your local forecast.”

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Cobb under flash flood watch until 8 a.m. Friday

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Cobb flash flood watch

The start of the school year is a soggy one, and the rest of the week will be wet as well. Cobb is one of many counties in north and central Georgia under a flash flood watch until 8 a.m. Friday.

The National Weather Service in Atlanta is predicting that Cobb could get between and inch to an inch and a half of rain until then.

Under a flash flood watch, conditions exist that could lead to flash flooding of lakes, streams, creeks and rivers and could cause hazardous driving situations on roads.

The forecast for Cobb calls for cooler temperatures but high humidity over the next few days. Today’s high is expected around 80, with a low of around 70, and a 100 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms.

For Thursday, similar conditions are expected, with the rain expected to taper off to a 60 percent chance by the evening.

Friday also calls for a 60 percent chance of rain with highs in the low 80s and lows in the low 70s. Likewise for Saturday, with the chance of rain forecast to dwindle to a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms.

The rainy weather is expected to continue into early next week.

 

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Cobb flash flood watch in effect through Saturday morning; a rainy Memorial Day holiday weekend expected

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Cobb flash flood watch, National Weather Service

Intermittent rainshowers are expected throughout the Memorial Day weekend, and to start it off Cobb and much of Georgia have been placed under a flash flood watch until 8 a.m. Saturday.

The National Weather Service said this afternoon the greatest chance for flash flooding is in central Georgia, along with portions of north Georgia.

Between an inch and two inches of rain could fall in those areas until Saturday morning. Localized flash flooding of creeks and streams is possible in places where heavy rainfall occurs.

This is from the NWS watch issued at 3 p.m. Friday:

“Additional rounds of very heavy rainfall are likely as a trough of low pressure to the west feeds very high amounts of moisture into the area. Widespread rainfall amounts of one to two inches are likely. Locally higher amounts of 3 inches or more are possible where storms repeatedly move.

“Much of this heavy rain could fall in a short amount of time. With the heavy rain that has already fallen in the last 2 days, it will only take a relatively small amount of rainfall to cause significant flash flooding.

“Creeks and rivers will rise out of their banks closing roads or impacting homes, businesses and farms. Roads may become closed for extended periods of time. High water will not recede until well after the rain has ended.”

The extended hazardous weather outlook for Cobb continues through Memorial Day and Tuesday, with scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms possible every day. Heavy rainfall could occur stemming from Tropical Storm Alberto, which is projected to hit the northwest Florida Gulf Coast on Monday.

That is the first named storm of the year, although the 2018 hurricane season doesn’t officially begin until next week.

High temperatures in Cobb and metro Atlanta are expected to reach or exceed 80 degrees every day over the holiday weekend, with expected lows in the mid-to-high 60s.

After Friday’s 50 percent chance of rain, the chance of rain on Saturday and Sunday is forecast to be 60 percent, and around 50 percent on Monday.

Rain also is in the forecast for all of next week.

 

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East Cobb Weather Update: Heavy rains, high winds in forecast through Tuesday

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East Cobb Weather Update

After a beautiful start to the weekend, Earth Day in East Cobb has been a soggy one, and the start of the week will be wetter still, with high winds to boot.

The National Weather Service in Atlanta has issued a hazardous weather outlook starting Sunday night and continuing into Tuesday.

East Cobb and the metro Atlanta area, as well as much of north Georgia, could get 2-4 inches of rainfall during that period. That also means the possibility of flooding in the usually suspect areas, although for now the NWS has issued a flood watch along the I-85 corridor through Monday afternoon.

A wind advisory will be in effect from 8 p.m. Sunday to 7 a.m. Monday and Cobb is included in this area. East winds between 15-25 mph are expected, with gusts of 34-40 mph possible and even higher in higher elevations.

The chance of thunderstorms Sunday night is highest after 11 p.m. and into the overnight hours of Monday.

Showers and a possible thunderstorm are most likely on Monday before 3 p.m., as the Monday morning as well as afternoon commute figures to be soggy.

Highs on Monday are expected to be in the upper 60s and lows in the mid 50s. There’s a 50 percent chance of rain Monday night.

For Tuesday, the rain will be tapering off to around a 40 percent chance, and thunderstorms possible after 2 p.m. Highs are forecast for the high 60s and lows in the mid 50s.

There’s a reduced chance of rain for most of the rest of the week in the East Cobb area, with partly sunny skies possible on Wednesday. The sun is expected to be out in full force on Friday.

High temperatures all week are expected in the mid 60s to low 70s and lows in the low-to-mid 50s and possibly the high 40s later in the week.

 

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COBB WEATHER ALERT: Tornado watch issued until 4 a.m. Tuesday; Cobb schools cancel Monday night activities

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Cobb weather alert, National Weather Service

UPDATED, 9:20 p.m.

Cobb is included in a tornado watch issued by the National Weather Service until 4 a.m. Tuesday. A second storm system with a tornado is moving out of Alabama. At 10:30 p.m., a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for all of Cobb County until 11:15 p.m. More storms were moving through counties in western Georgia, where tornado warnings had been in effect.

UPDATED, 5:58 P.M:

The Cobb County School District announced shortly before 5 p.m. today that all school-related activities tonight are cancelled.

ORIGINAL POST, 2:04 P.M.:

The National Weather Service has included Cobb and metro Atlanta in a severe weather forecast for this afternoon and evening that includes the possibilities of thunderstorms, high winds, hail and tornadoes.

The threat is greatest between 3 p.m. and midnight, according to the National Weather Service forecast, which includes much of north Georgia.

Here’s more from what the NWS released in its revised projections around 1:30 this afternoon:

Isolated to scattered thunderstorms will develop this afternoon, especially south of I-20. Some of these storms could be strong to severe with large hail and brief gusty winds the primary threat,
along with heavy rain.

Later this afternoon through this evening, a more organized line of severe thunderstorms will move from Alabama into northwest and west-central Georgia. It is along and ahead of this line where all modes of severe weather exist, including tornadoes, large hail potentially greater than 2 inches, and damaging winds in excess of 70 MPH. Heavy rainfall and frequent lightning will also occur. Expect the potential for severe weather to be its highest between 5 PM and 2 AM
Tuesday morning.

This map was released around 2:20 p.m. today:

We’re also seeing some school districts in west Georgia begin to cancel at least after-school activities, due to the weather threat, but haven’t seen anything yet for Cobb. We’ll update that here when we get more information.

 

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