Severe Thunderstorm Warning 287, NWS Atlanta, GA

280 
WWUS52 KFFC 180106
SVSFFC

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
906 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026

GAC055-083-295-180116-
/O.EXP.KFFC.SV.W.0287.000000T0000Z-260818T0115Z/
Walker GA-Dade GA-Chattooga GA-
906 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN WALKER...
SOUTHWESTERN DADE AND CHATTOOGA COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 915 PM EDT...

The storms which prompted the warning have weakened below severe
limits, and no longer pose an immediate threat to life or property.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EDT for
northwestern Georgia.

&&

LAT...LON 3474 8554 3452 8514 3434 8547 3473 8556
TIME...MOT...LOC 0106Z 296DEG 25KT 3456 8532 3434 8578 

$$

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
738 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026

...New 00Z Aviation Discussion...

.KEY MESSAGES...

  - Scattered thunderstorms capable of damaging wind gusts are
    possible across portions of north Georgia through late this
    evening.

  - Drier air will bring slightly cooler conditions to north
    Georgia on Tuesday, though a Heat Advisory will remain in
    effect for most of central Georgia through Tuesday evening.

  - Thunderstorm chances will be limited Tuesday through
    Thursday, then increase somewhat late this week into the
    weekend.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(This afternoon through Tuesday)
Issued at 207 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026

Today's stifling heat will lead into the potential for strong to
severe thunderstorms in parts of north Georgia as we head into
this evening. Scattered thunderstorms are initially expected to
expand by late this afternoon across parts of Tennessee into the
Appalachians as a frontal boundary as well as outflow boundaries
associated with an earlier thunderstorm complex drop southeastward
into a destabilizing environment. Abundant instability
characterized by SBCAPE already analyzed in excess of 3000 J/kg
will provide plenty of fuel for thunderstorm maintenance. CAMs are
in fairly good agreement that storms could form into line
segments along outflow that would present a substantial risk for
damaging wind gusts given DCAPE in the range of 1000-1500 J/kg.
These storms could potentially make it as far south as I-20 by
late evening (though confidence in southward extent remains low),
especially if aided by cold-pool forward propagation before
encountering a less favorable environment by around midnight
farther south. SPC maintains a Slight Risk that covers far north
Georgia with an attendant Marginal Risk farther south to the I-20
corridor to highlight this risk.

As far as the heat is concerned, a Heat Advisory remains in
effect for all areas outside of the mountains through 8 PM this
evening as widespread heat index values in excess of 105 will
remain commonplace. The good news is that a bit of a "cooldown"
will be in the near future on Tuesday as noticeably drier air will
filter into north Georgia in the wake of the frontal boundary.
While highs will still reach the low-to-mid 90s in these areas,
today's 70s dewpoints will be replaced by dewpoints in the 60s.
This drier airmass will keep afternoon heat index values from
nearing Heat Advisory criteria across north Georgia on Tuesday.
Unfortunately for the Middle Georgia folks, muggy 70s dewpoints
will remain in place for you, resulting in another day with a Heat
Advisory and heat index values 105-109 on Tuesday.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Wednesday morning through next Sunday)
Issued at 207 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026

The main story for the long term period will be oppressive heat
for parts of the area later this week, courtesy of a lingering
mid-level ridge and advection of warm 850 mb air from the southern
Great Plains. At this time, Thursday and Friday may necessitate
Heat Advisory issuances given progged heat index values of 105-109
degrees across at least parts of central Georgia. Thursday is
shaping up to be the hotter of the two days, with actual air
temperatures progged to be in the upper 90s to lower 100s from the
northern Atlanta metro to areas south.

A large-scale pattern change will begin on Friday and continue
into the weekend. An amplifying upper-level ridge over the West
will induce expansive troughing over the East. Coupled with
increasing low-level and mid-level moisture, the environment
should support isolated to scattered convection across at least
parts of the area on Friday and Saturday. Instability should be
plentiful (with caveats being increased cloud cover and capping)
but at this time, deep-layer shear looks to be lacking. In the
absence of convection growing upscale, hazards should be typical
of summertime "popcorn" storms -- localized gusty winds, heavy
rainfall, and frequent cloud-to-ground lightning.

A "cold" front (honestly, more accurately described as a moisture
gradient) will work through the area from northwest to southeast
between Saturday and Sunday. While the timing of the front's
passage is somewhat uncertain, ensemble guidance signals that rain
chances will be relegated to central Georgia on Sunday.

&&

.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 726 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026

A line of showers and thunderstorms moving into N GA. These storms
are expected to move south into the ATL area over the next
4-5hours and diminish as they reach the southern ATL suburbs. Will
see Gusty winds and periods of heavy rain with these storms as
they move through the ATL/AHN area TAF sites. Not expecting these
storms to make it into the MCN/CSG areas. Winds expected to stay
mainly out of the W to NW in the 5-12kt range with VRB gusty
winds in and around any convection. Ceilings will also stay VFR
except MVFR in and around storms.

//ATL Confidence...00Z Update...
Confidence high on all elements

01

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Athens          76  96  72  97 /  20   0   0   0
Atlanta         77  94  72  95 /  20   0   0   0
Blairsville     69  86  64  89 /  30   0   0   0
Cartersville    74  93  68  95 /  20   0   0   0
Columbus        78  96  73  96 /  10   0   0   0
Gainesville     75  93  71  95 /  20   0   0   0
Macon           77  96  73  96 /  10   0   0   0
Rome            74  92  68  96 /  30   0   0   0
Peachtree City  75  94  69  95 /  20   0   0   0
Vidalia         79  99  75  99 /   0  10   0   0

&&

.FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for GAZ001>005-011-012-
019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>071-075-078-079.

Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT Tuesday for GAZ072>074-076-080>086-
089>098-102>113.

&&

SHORT TERM...RW
LONG TERM....Martin
AVIATION...01

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
133 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026

GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086-
089>098-102>113-181745-
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-
133 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north and central Georgia.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight...

A Heat Advisory is in effect for much of north and central
Georgia today. Temperatures will be in the upper 90s and near 100
in many areas, bringing feels like temperatures well into the
triple digits. Please exercise caution if outdoors and check on
vulnerable neighbors.

Isolated to scattered storms are expected to push into north
Georgia later this afternoon and evening. Some may become severe,
capable of producing damaging wind gusts, frequent lightning, and
locally heavy rainfall.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday...

Hot and humid conditions will persist for much of the week, with
heat index values rising into the triple digits each day in many
locations. A Heat Advisory will remain in effect through Tuesday
evening for portions of central Georgia.

Scattered thunderstorms will possible across north and central
Georgia Friday and Saturday, mainly during the afternoon and
evening.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not requested, but spotters are encouraged
to submit reports of severe weather through the web by going to
weather.gov/atlanta.

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
540 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026

GAZ006-008-009-172215-
Union GA-Towns GA-Fannin GA-
540 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern Towns,
northwestern Union and northeastern Fannin Counties through 615 PM
EDT...

At 539 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was near Culberson, or 8 miles
west of Murphy, moving southeast at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Up to 40 mph wind, pea sized hail and frequent cloud to
         ground lightning.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
         light, unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Gumlog, Nottely Dam, Ivy Log, and Alexanders Mill.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EDT for
north central and northeastern Georgia.

&&

LAT...LON 3498 8385 3482 8407 3499 8423 3499 8386
TIME...MOT...LOC 2139Z 323DEG 13KT 3505 8417

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
617 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026

GAZ006-008-009-172245-
Union GA-Towns GA-Fannin GA-
617 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of western Towns, Union
and Fannin Counties through 645 PM EDT...

At 617 PM EDT, a line of strong thunderstorms was along a line
extending from near Coker Creek to near Turtletown to near Cohutta
Wilderness, and moving southeast at 40 mph.

HAZARD...40 to 50 mph wind, pea sized hail and frequent cloud to
         ground lightning.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
         light, unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Blue Ridge, Hiawassee, Blairsville, Young Harris, Morganton, Hemp,
Margret, Blue Mountain Shelter, Brasstown Bald, Higdon, Gumlog,
Nottely Dam, Hurst, Ivy Log, Loving, Jones Creek, Cohutta Wilderness,
Mountain Scene, Epworth, and Owltown.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EDT for
north central and northeastern Georgia.

&&

LAT...LON 3499 8369 3482 8373 3472 8411 3499 8462
TIME...MOT...LOC 2217Z 296DEG 35KT 3524 8432 3509 8437 3502 8461

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
635 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026

GAZ002>005-172300-
Whitfield GA-Catoosa GA-Walker GA-Murray GA-
635 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of central Catoosa,
central Murray, Whitfield and east central Walker Counties through
700 PM EDT...

At 635 PM EDT, a line of strong thunderstorms was along a line
extending from near Cohutta to Beaumont, and moving southeast at 15
mph.

HAZARD...Up to 40 mph wind, pea sized hail and frequent cloud to
         ground lightning.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
         light, unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Dalton, Chatsworth, Ringgold, Varnell, Eton, Tunnel Hill, Cohutta,
Wood Station, Rocky Face, Tilton, Mill Creek, Beaumont, Dawnville,
Fort Mountain State Park, and North Georgia Speedway.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EDT for
north central and northwestern Georgia.

&&

LAT...LON 3479 8462 3478 8464 3476 8464 3462 8499
      3485 8527 3495 8500
TIME...MOT...LOC 2235Z 296DEG 14KT 3494 8501 3485 8520

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
643 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026

GAZ005>007-172315-
Gilmer GA-Murray GA-Fannin GA-
643 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of northwestern Gilmer,
eastern Murray and northwestern Fannin Counties through 715 PM EDT...

At 643 PM EDT, a line of strong thunderstorms was along a line
extending from near Big Frog Mountain to near Conasauga Lake to near
Fort Mountain State Park, and moving east at 20 mph.

HAZARD...40 to 50 mph wind, up to penny sized hail and frequent
         cloud to ground lightning.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
         light, unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Ellijay, East Ellijay, Crandall, Conasauga Lake, Tails Creek, Jones
Mill, Cherry Log, Mountaintown, Higdon, Fort Mountain State Park, and
Colwell.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EDT for
north central and northwestern Georgia.

&&

LAT...LON 3487 8438 3466 8433 3462 8464 3486 8477
      3498 8460
TIME...MOT...LOC 2243Z 247DEG 18KT 3497 8455 3490 8469 3478 8468

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
648 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026

GAZ006>009-015-172315-
Gilmer GA-Union GA-Towns GA-Lumpkin GA-Fannin GA-
648 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of Towns, northwestern
Lumpkin, northeastern Gilmer, Union and Fannin Counties through 715
PM EDT...

At 648 PM EDT, a line of strong thunderstorms was along a line
extending from Marble to near Nottely Dam to Blue Ridge, and moving
southeast at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Up to 40 mph wind, pea sized hail and frequent cloud to
         ground lightning.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
         light, unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Blue Ridge, Hiawassee, Blairsville, Young Harris, Morganton, Suches,
Gumlog, Loving, Jones Creek, Woods Hole Shelter, Pisgah, Mineral
Bluff, Vogel State Park, Stover Creek Shelter, Gaddistown, Hemp,
Margret, Brasstown Bald, Nottely Dam, and Hurst.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EDT for
north central and northeastern Georgia.

&&

LAT...LON 3498 8360 3470 8394 3462 8431 3491 8440
      3499 8424 3499 8362
TIME...MOT...LOC 2248Z 334DEG 21KT 3517 8394 3498 8411 3488 8435

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
820 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026

GAZ002-011-012-019-180045-
Chattooga GA-Walker GA-Gordon GA-Floyd GA-
820 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northeastern Floyd,
southeastern Walker, northwestern Gordon and northeastern Chattooga
Counties through 845 PM EDT...

At 820 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was near Naomi, or near
Lafayette, moving southeast at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Up to 40 mph wind, pea sized hail and frequent cloud to
         ground lightning.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
         light, unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Lafayette, Trion, Resaca, La Fayette, Naomi, Center Post, Subligna,
Suttles Mill, Lake Marvin, Linwood, Villanow, Sugar Valley, and
Everett Springs.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EDT for
northwestern Georgia.

&&

LAT...LON 3470 8536 3473 8522 3465 8505 3461 8505
      3462 8497 3459 8492 3440 8510 3457 8541
TIME...MOT...LOC 0020Z 304DEG 18KT 3465 8526

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH