Severe Thunderstorm Warning 309, 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.

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

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

0255 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 SE Hardwick           33.05N 83.21W
08/21/2026                   Baldwin            GA   Public

            Public reports a large tree and power lines
            down along the 100 block of Frazier Drive.

&&

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

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

0309 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 SE Hardwick           33.06N 83.21W
08/21/2026                   Baldwin            GA   Emergency Mngr

            Emergency manager reports a large tree down
            on a home in the 100 block of Joy Street.

&&

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

GAZ071-072-212145-
Monroe GA-Jones GA-
522 PM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of eastern Monroe and
western Jones Counties through 545 PM EDT...

At 521 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was over Plant Scherer, or near
Forsyth, moving east at 10 mph.

HAZARD...Up to 40 mph wind, frequent cloud to ground lightning and
         heavy rain.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
         light, unsecured objects. Heavy rain may cause temporary
         street flooding especially in poor drainage areas.

Locations impacted include...
Forsyth, Bolingbroke, Wayside, Dames Ferry, Berner, Round Oak,
Juliette, Plant Scherer, and Jarrell Plantation.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Motorists
should slow down and be prepared for possible loss of control due to
hydroplaning.

&&

LAT...LON 3292 8370 3295 8371 3295 8373 3294 8373
      3291 8378 3301 8396 3318 8388 3317 8382
      3313 8381 3315 8371 3313 8360 3298 8356
      3291 8368
TIME...MOT...LOC 2121Z 292DEG 8KT 3307 8384

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

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

GAZ054-056-068-070-212200-
Fayette GA-Lamar GA-Spalding GA-Pike GA-
530 PM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of Spalding,
southeastern Fayette, northeastern Pike and northwestern Lamar
Counties through 600 PM EDT...

At 529 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was over Brooks, or 9 miles west
of Griffin, moving southeast at 20 mph.

HAZARD...40 to 50 mph wind, frequent cloud to ground lightning and
         heavy rain.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
         light, unsecured objects. Heavy rain may cause temporary
         street flooding especially in poor drainage areas.

Locations impacted include...
Griffin, Zebulon, Brooks, Williamson, Orchard Hill, Meansville,
Woolsey, East Griffin, Highland Mills, Experiment, Birdie,
Hollonville, Vaughn, Rover, Digbey, Lake Horton, and Zetella.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Motorists
should slow down and be prepared for possible loss of control due to
hydroplaning.

&&

LAT...LON 3338 8445 3336 8439 3335 8439 3335 8437
      3326 8411 3303 8427 3318 8450 3320 8449
      3322 8450 3325 8451 3325 8450 3329 8451
TIME...MOT...LOC 2129Z 300DEG 17KT 3327 8443

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

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

GAZ113-212200-
Toombs GA-
535 PM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of central Toombs
County through 600 PM EDT...

At 535 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was over Santa Claus, or near
Lyons, moving northeast at 15 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...
Lyons, Vidalia, Santa Claus, South Thompson, Toombs Central, Ohoopee,
New Branch, Ponderosa, Rock Springs, Cedar Crossing, Johnson Corner,
and Center.

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 3214 8220 3204 8221 3194 8228 3203 8244
      3221 8236 3219 8231 3228 8228 3225 8221
      3223 8221 3218 8219 3216 8218
TIME...MOT...LOC 2135Z 206DEG 13KT 3214 8230

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

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

GAZ086-212200-
Emanuel GA-
536 PM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of central Emanuel
County through 600 PM EDT...

At 536 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was near Modoc, or near
Swainsboro. 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...
Swainsboro, Twin City, Stillmore, Garfield, Summertown, Nunez, Three
Points, Modoc, Canoochee, Lexsy, Colemans Lake, and George L Smith
State Park.

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 3256 8208 3252 8215 3248 8218 3243 8219
      3250 8242 3283 8228 3281 8223 3280 8221
      3281 8219 3281 8215 3266 8208 3263 8204
TIME...MOT...LOC 2136Z 058DEG 2KT 3263 8225

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