Severe Thunderstorm Warning 304, NWS Atlanta, GA

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
221 PM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

...Afternoon Area Forecast Discussion...

.KEY MESSAGES...

 - Scattered to numerous thunderstorms this afternoon will pose a
   damaging wind gust threat across Central Georgia. Frequent
   lightning and locally heavy rainfall possible with any storms.

 - Warm and humid again today but slightly 'cooler' and more seasonal
   temperatures return this weekend into early next week.

 - Mostly dry this weekend with low daily rain chances returning
   for most by mid-week next week.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(This afternoon through Saturday)
Issued at 220 PM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

An upper level longwave trough currently extends from the northern
Great Lakes towards the Deep South, and will continue to amplify as
its axis shifts eastward towards the Atlantic coast. A surface front
associated with this trough has entered far northwest Georgia. The
movement of the trough will help advance the frontal boundary south
and east through the afternoon and evening. Areas along and south of
the front will be the focus for thunderstorm activity amid a warm
and moist environment. Temperatures in portions of central and east
Georgia will climb into the into the mid to upper 90s (compared to
low 90s in areas north of I-85) while dewpoints remain in the low
90s. Robust destabilization within this hot and humid airmass
combined with forcing ahead of the front will allow storms to
develop quickly during the remainder of the afternoon. This will
culminate in high-end chance to low-end likely PoPs in areas
generally south/east of Atlanta from 4 PM to 8 PM, with gradually
diminishing chances during the evening with the loss of daytime
heating.

With SBCAPE values between 2500-3500 J/kg, DCAPE values between 800-
1200 J/kg, and precipitable water values of 1.9-2.2 inches, several
storms this afternoon and evening will be capable of becoming
severe. Downburst winds up to 60 mph will be the primary threat with
any severe storms that occur, which will be capable of damaging
trees and powerlines. Storms over the course of the day will also
contain frequent lightning and be highly efficient rainfall
producers given deep moisture. This could lead to isolated flooding
concerns, especially if stronger storms linger over urban or flood-
prone areas.

On Saturday, the trough axis will clear Georgia to the east, pushing
the frontal boundary through the forecast area. Noticeably drier air
will filter in behind this front, lowering dewpoints into the 60s
across the majority of the area. Though highs will still rise into
the low 90s, it will feel less oppressive given these dewpoints. An
isolated shower or thunderstorm cannot be ruled out in east-central
Georgia closest to the front on Saturday afternoon, while clear
conditions are forecast elsewhere across the forecast area.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Sunday morning through next Thursday)
Issued at 220 PM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

By the end of the weekend, temps will have fallen into the upper
80s and low 90s with RH values in the afternoon will drop into the
mid to low 40s bringing heat index values down and making it feel
very dry for this time of year. A welcome relief from the hot an
humid weather that had seem to be stuck over GA for the past
month.

With this dry airmass behind the front, we'll also get a break from
thunderstorms during the afternoon as well until Wednesday when
winds become more southerly and we start to pull moisture back in
from the Gulf. This weekend and early next week will be a great
opportunity to be outside without hating it.

After Wednesday, the upper level flow becomes more zonal and we'll
start to see a return to the diurnal pattern that we are used to.
With that pattern, we are also expecting a slow return of triple
digit heat indices for the second half of the work week.

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 143 PM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

Isolated SHRA/TSRA has begun to develop in portions of central and
east GA, including near MCN, and will increase in coverage by 20Z
and into the evening. A PROB30 for TSRA is being carried from
20-00Z at ATL when storms will be most likely. VFR conditions are
ongoing underneath a cu field between 035-050. Aside from gusty
outflow winds from TSRA, prevailing winds will be W at 5-10 kts
through the afternoon, diminishing to 5 kts or less overnight.
Winds will shift to NW at 5-10 kts during the daytime on Saturday.
Low clouds will be possible in the early morning in portions of
east Georgia on Saturday, with IFR ceilings most likely from
10-13Z at AHN. FEW-SCT MVFR clouds will be possible as far east as
PDK in the early morning.

//ATL Confidence...18Z Update...
Medium confidence on early morning low clouds.
High confidence on all other elements.

King

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Athens          70  91  69  92 /  40   0   0   0
Atlanta         72  92  72  92 /  20   0   0  10
Blairsville     65  84  62  83 /  10   0   0   0
Cartersville    70  92  69  92 /  10   0   0   0
Columbus        73  94  72  95 /  50   0   0   0
Gainesville     70  90  69  90 /  10   0   0   0
Macon           72  93  71  94 /  60  10  10   0
Rome            69  92  69  91 /   0   0   0  10
Peachtree City  71  92  70  92 /  30   0   0  10
Vidalia         72  93  72  95 /  50  20  10   0

&&

.FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&

SHORT TERM...King
LONG TERM....Vaughn
AVIATION...King

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
154 PM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086-
089>098-102>113-221800-
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-
154 PM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north and central Georgia.

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

Scattered thunderstorms are expected across Central and Eastern
Georgia this afternoon and evening. A few storms could be strong
to severe with strong to damaging winds, frequent lightning, and
locally heavy rainfall.

Hot and humid conditions continue across much of the area, with
heat index values rising into the triple digits this afternoon.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday...

Isolated to scattered afternoon thunderstorms will return on
Wednesday and Thursday afternoon.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will not be needed through tonight.

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
339 PM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

GAZ106-212015-
Crisp GA-
339 PM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northeastern Crisp
County through 415 PM EDT...

At 339 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was over Cordele. This storm was
nearly stationary.

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...
Cordele, East Crisp, Tremont, Wenona, and Hatley.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3188 8380 3203 8381 3202 8362 3186 8361
      3185 8361
TIME...MOT...LOC 1939Z 028DEG 3KT 3194 8375

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

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
340 PM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0130 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 SW Varnell            34.88N 85.00W
08/21/2026                   Whitfield          GA   Emergency Mngr

            Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 2
            SW Varnell. Tree down across the road near
            the intersection of Harper Lane and Glisson
            Drive.

&&

TV

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
341 PM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

GAZ102-103-212015-
Stewart GA-Webster GA-
341 PM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern Stewart
and southern Webster Counties through 415 PM EDT...

At 341 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was over Troutman, or 9 miles
southeast of Lumpkin. This storm was nearly stationary.

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...
Preston, Richland, Weston, Troutman, Kimbrough, Centerpoint, Dumas,
and Leveretts.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3192 8467 3193 8468 3192 8469 3192 8480
      3193 8480 3192 8481 3192 8486 3207 8474
      3206 8443 3204 8443 3204 8444 3192 8445
TIME...MOT...LOC 1941Z 028DEG 3KT 3196 8467

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

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
343 PM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0137 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 WNW Dawnville         34.84N 84.92W
08/21/2026                   Whitfield          GA   Emergency Mngr

            Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 3
            WNW Dawnville. Tree down across road near
            the intersection of Beaverdale RD NE and
            Cherokee Estate RD NE.

&&

TV

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
343 PM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

GAZ104-212030-
Sumter GA-
343 PM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern Sumter
County through 430 PM EDT...

At 343 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was near Plains, or 9 miles
southeast of Preston, moving southeast at 10 mph.

HAZARD...Heavy rain.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Heavy rain may cause temporary street flooding especially
         in poor drainage areas.

Locations impacted include...
Plains, Sumter, Maddox, and Croxton Crossroads.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Motorists should slow down and be prepared for possible loss of
control due to hydroplaning.

&&

LAT...LON 3189 8436 3192 8438 3197 8444 3204 8444
      3204 8443 3214 8443 3205 8425 3192 8415
      3192 8434 3187 8434
TIME...MOT...LOC 1943Z 334DEG 9KT 3198 8440

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
344 PM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0125 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 NE Cloudland          34.54N 85.45W
08/21/2026                   Chattooga          GA   Dept of Highways

            Department of transportation reports trees
            down near the intersection of Highway 157
            and Sky View Drive.

&&