Red Flag Warning 8, NWS Atlanta, GA

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
127 AM EDT Mon Apr 20 2026

...New 06Z Aviation Discussion...

.KEY MESSAGES...

   - Critical fire weather conditions today, and will be likely
     each afternoon this week due to persistent dry weather.

   - Temperatures start the week cooler but will warm back up into
     the mid to upper 80s by mid-week.

   - Chances for showers and thunderstorms return this weekend.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(This afternoon through Monday)
Issued at 241 PM EDT Sun Apr 19 2026

With north and central Georgia solidly post-frontal, a steady stream
of dry, northwesterly flow at the mid-levels and yet another surface
high pressure system will support continued clearing and drying in
the wake of this morning's scant rainfall totals (generally <0.25").
Today will be breezy (gusts to 20 to 30 mph), with wind gradually
tapering off into the afternoon as the surface pressure gradient
slackens. Unfortunately, this morning's rainfall will have little-to-
no effect on 1) our ongoing drought conditions and 2) our persistent
fire weather concerns. Fine fuels are expected to quickly dry back
out, and dewpoints will tank into the afternoon (upper 20s to 30s,
compared to the 50s yesterday). A Red Flag Warning is in effect
until 8PM this evening for most of north and central Georgia due to
the combination of gusty winds, low relative humidity, and dry
fuels. Highs will swing far cooler this afternoon as cool, dry air
filters in on the back end of the front, topping out in the mid-60s
to mid-70s (perhaps 80 for our far southeastern tier -- as much as a
15 to 20 degree decrease from yesterday's highs!).

Lows tonight will be chilly compared to the balmy past couple of
mornings, dropping into the 40s -- and possibly even the upper 30s
for areas in northeast Georgia at elevation.

A gradual return to unseasonable warmth will commence starting on
Monday, with highs expected to rise into the mid-to-upper 70s to
near 80 under clear skies. Low-end gusts to 20 to 25 mph will filter
back in tomorrow afternoon, sufficient when combined with relative
humidity in the 25 to 30 percent range to introduce the potential
for critical fire weather conditions for portions of northeast
Georgia tomorrow afternoon. A Fire Weather Watch has been issued for
Monday afternoon and evening -- further upgrade to a Red Flag
Warning is possible. Fire Danger Statement issuance is likely for
the remainder of the forecast area tomorrow as relative humidity
values drop into the teens to lower 20s.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Tuesday morning through next Saturday)
Issued at 241 PM EDT Sun Apr 19 2026

The main concern for the long term will be continued fire weather
concerns. Rainfall amounts from the front were not enough to improve
fuels by too much in this area which will result in continued days
of dry fuels and low relative humidity values. Pushing into Tuesday
the high pressure begins to build back into the area which will
result in slackening winds but with significant dry air in the area,
high fire danger continues. Minimum relative humidities will range
from 20-30% across north and central Georgia through at least
Friday, so fire danger statements are likely each day. Please
continue to monitor your local area burn bans.

Temperatures Tuesday will begin to rebound into the low 80s across
the area and continue to warm to the mid 80s through at least Friday
keeping our area ~10 degrees above normal. Taking a look into the
longer range models, there are indications that the area could be
entering a wetter pattern into next weekend. An area of low pressure
begins to approach the area late week with a front likely to push
through the area on Saturday into Sunday. Latest runs of the GEFS
show rainfall reaching past northwest Georgia during this time
frame. Probabilities for severe weather are currently low but with
increased PWATs there are indications that we may get more rainfall
than with this last system. Projected PWATS are currently forecasted
to range from 1.5-1.85" which is definitely putting our area above
average. Too soon to talk about amounts but any rainfall helps with
the ongoing drought.

&&

.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 118 AM EDT Mon Apr 20 2026

VFR conditions will prevail through the 06Z TAF period under
mostly SKC. Light NW winds early this morning increase to around
8-10 kts with gusts 18-20kts after 16Z, then weaken back to 5 kts
or less after 00Z this evening. Winds may briefly turn out of the
NNE at times throughout the period, but will primarily be NNW.

//ATL Confidence...06Z Update...

High in all elements.

Culver

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Athens          46  77  51  83 /   0   0   0   0
Atlanta         52  79  56  83 /   0   0   0   0
Blairsville     41  74  47  77 /   0   0   0   0
Cartersville    45  80  51  83 /   0   0   0   0
Columbus        49  82  54  84 /   0   0   0   0
Gainesville     47  77  53  81 /   0   0   0   0
Macon           49  80  52  84 /   0   0   0   0
Rome            45  80  50  83 /   0   0   0   0
Peachtree City  47  80  52  84 /   0   0   0   0
Vidalia         50  81  52  85 /   0   0   0   0

&&

.FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Fire Weather Watch from noon EDT today through this evening for
GAZ006>009-013>016-021>025-027-034-035.

&&

SHORT TERM...96
LONG TERM....Hernandez
AVIATION...Culver

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
805 PM EDT Sun Apr 19 2026

GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086-
089>098-102>113-210015-
Baldwin-Banks-Barrow-Bartow-Bibb-Bleckley-Butts-Carroll-Catoosa-
Chattahoochee-Chattooga-Cherokee-Clarke-Clayton-Cobb-Coweta-
Crawford-Crisp-Dade-Dawson-DeKalb-Dodge-Dooly-Douglas-Emanuel-
Fannin-Fayette-Floyd-Forsyth-Gilmer-Glascock-Gordon-Greene-
Gwinnett-Hall-Hancock-Haralson-Harris-Heard-Henry-Houston-Jackson-
Jasper-Jefferson-Johnson-Jones-Lamar-Laurens-Lumpkin-Macon-
Madison-Marion-Meriwether-Monroe-Montgomery-Morgan-Murray-
Muscogee-Newton-North Fulton-Oconee-Oglethorpe-Paulding-Peach-
Pickens-Pike-Polk-Pulaski-Putnam-Rockdale-Schley-South Fulton-
Spalding-Stewart-Sumter-Talbot-Taliaferro-Taylor-Telfair-Toombs-
Towns-Treutlen-Troup-Twiggs-Union-Upson-Walker-Walton-Warren-
Washington-Webster-Wheeler-White-Whitfield-Wilcox-Wilkes-
Wilkinson-
805 PM EDT Sun Apr 19 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north and central Georgia.

.DAY ONE...Tonight...

Hazardous weather overnight is unlikely.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday...

A Fire Weather Watch is in effect Monday afternoon and evening
across northeast Georgia due to the potential for continued
critical fire weather conditions. Outdoor burning is strongly
discouraged.

Hazardous fire weather conditions are likely each afternoon
through Friday due to very dry antecedent conditions.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will not be needed through tonight.

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
138 AM EDT Mon Apr 20 2026

GAZ001>005-011-012-019-020-030>033-036>039-041>062-066>076-
078>086-089>098-102>113-210000-
Dade-Walker-Catoosa-Whitfield-Murray-Chattooga-Gordon-Floyd-
Bartow-Polk-Paulding-Cobb-North Fulton-Clarke-Oconee-Oglethorpe-
Wilkes-Haralson-Carroll-Douglas-South Fulton-DeKalb-Rockdale-
Walton-Newton-Morgan-Greene-Taliaferro-Heard-Coweta-Fayette-
Clayton-Spalding-Henry-Butts-Jasper-Putnam-Hancock-Warren-Troup-
Meriwether-Pike-Upson-Lamar-Monroe-Jones-Baldwin-Washington-
Glascock-Jefferson-Harris-Talbot-Taylor-Crawford-Bibb-Twiggs-
Wilkinson-Johnson-Emanuel-Muscogee-Chattahoochee-Marion-Schley-
Macon-Peach-Houston-Bleckley-Laurens-Treutlen-Stewart-Webster-
Sumter-Dooly-Crisp-Pulaski-Wilcox-Dodge-Telfair-Wheeler-
Montgomery-Toombs-
138 AM EDT Mon Apr 20 2026

...HIGH FIRE DANGER CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING
FOR PARTS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA DUE TO LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITIES AND GUSTY WINDS...

Relative Humidities of 30 percent or less can be expected for 4
or more hours this afternoon into the evening. Winds will be NW to
N at 6 to 10 MPH with gusts to 18 MPH.

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.