Special Weather Statement, NWS Atlanta, GA

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
141 PM EDT Fri May 22 2026

...New 18Z Aviation Discussion...

.KEY MESSAGES...

  - An unsettled weather pattern will bring widespread showers and
    thunderstorms through the holiday weekend and into next week.

  - Locally heavy rainfall can be expected each day, bringing
    isolated flash flooding potential.

  - A few strong to severe thunderstorms are possible today and
    Saturday, primarily bringing a localized damaging wind threat.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(Today through Saturday)
Issued at 321 AM EDT Fri May 22 2026

Unsettled weather will be the theme to close out the work week
and start the holiday weekend. Continued deep southwest flow will
usher in periodic shortwave disturbances, providing impetuses for
widespread showers and thunderstorms amid deep moisture
characterized by dewpoints in the upper 60s to low 70s and PWATs
1.5- 2". Meanwhile, at the surface, a CAD wedge will remain
situated across northeast/portions of north Georgia through the
day with uncertainty regarding southward extent/persistence
heading into tonight.

While mostly cloudy skies will likely prevail for most
areas through the day, a few breaks could be expected. Thus, overall
thermodynamic environment may be somewhat limited but should still
yield some 800-1200 J/kg SBCAPE this afternoon. While a widespread
severe threat is not anticipated, a few strong to isolated severe
thunderstorms wouldn't be out of the question, primarily for a
localized downburst wind threat. Additionally, locally heavy
rainfall and a subsequent flash/urban flooding threat is possible
given the moist environment, particularly where any training or
anchoring of storms could occur. Exact timing of most widespread
convection is a bit tricky, though redevelopment and more widespread
coverage is favored by late afternoon into this evening.

Heading into Saturday, a very similar forecast can be anticipated.
An additional shortwave disturbance will help generate widespread
convection with some indication that showers and thunderstorms could
reinvigorate as early as Saturday morning. Additionally, vestiges of
the wedge will retreat by Saturday, and resultant instability should
be higher than today with guidance supportive of 1500-2000 J/kg
SBCAPE. Again, a low-end severe threat would manifest primarily in
the form of locally strong wind gusts given instability alongside
and 30-40 kts 0-6 km shear, though isolated hail is also possible.
Locally heavy rainfall and isolated flash flooding will also
remain a threat.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Saturday night through Thursday)
Issued at 321 AM EDT Fri May 22 2026

The summer-like pattern continues through the full long term.
Southwest flow hold moisture across the area with widespread PoPs
peaking each afternoon. Persistent subtropical disturbances will
continue to move through the Gulf states provided the necessary
lift. A few storms each day may become strong to severe with gusty
winds and some hail. The other concern for any storms will be
training heavy rainfall resulting in localized flash flooding.
Rainfall rates of 2"+ per hour will be possible at time. All that
said, no widespread severe is expected through the period.

As we get further into the period, uncertainty increases in the
large scale flow. A high amplitude polar jet will ridge through mid
next week, potentially forming an omega block pattern. The main
uncertainty will be if subtropical shortwave energy will be enough
to undercut this large ridge and continue the rain train or will
conditions settle for hot and muggy. Time will tell, though PoPs
will hold at least low end through the end of next week.

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1233 PM EDT Fri May 22 2026
Continued moist flow with showers and thunderstorms across the
area. Expecting all TAF sites to see some SHRA/TSRA over the next
24-30 hours Ceilings are mainly VFR but will lower into the MVFR
to IFR range this evening and overnight. Winds are staying
southerly (SW to SE) in the 5-10kt range. Winds will diminish to
near calm overnight

//ATL Confidence...18Z Update...
Confidence high on all elements.

01

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Athens          85  64  81  64 /  80 100  90  80
Atlanta         84  67  82  66 /  80  80  90  70
Blairsville     75  61  76  61 / 100 100  90  70
Cartersville    82  65  82  64 /  70  70  80  60
Columbus        88  67  86  67 /  80  60  80  60
Gainesville     80  66  79  65 /  80 100  90  80
Macon           90  66  85  66 /  70  80  80  60
Rome            80  64  82  63 /  70  70  70  60
Peachtree City  85  66  83  65 /  80  80  90  70
Vidalia         91  70  89  69 /  50  60  80  60

&&

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

SHORT TERM...RW
LONG TERM....SM
AVIATION...01

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
425 AM EDT Fri May 22 2026

GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086-
089>098-102>113-230830-
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-
425 AM EDT Fri May 22 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north and central Georgia.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight...

Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected today with the
highest coverage during the afternoon and evening hours. A few
storms could become strong to severe bringing the risk for strong
wind gusts and frequent lightning.

Additionally, locally heavy rainfall can be expected, which could
lead to localized flash flooding concerns.

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

Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected Saturday through
Thursday, especially during the afternoon and evening hours,
which will bring the risk for locally heavy rainfall and frequent
lightning. A few storms could become severe.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will not be needed through tonight.

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
934 AM EDT Fri May 22 2026

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

0615 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Monroe                  33.80N 83.71W
05/21/2026                   Walton             GA   Emergency Mngr

            Tree down across roadway at 400 block of
            East Spring Street.

&&

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
215 PM EDT Fri May 22 2026

GAZ015-016-023-221845-
Hall GA-White GA-Lumpkin GA-
215 PM EDT Fri May 22 2026

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern
Lumpkin, southwestern White and northwestern Hall Counties
through 245 PM EDT...

At 215 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was over Murrayville, or 8
miles northwest of Gainesville, moving northeast 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...
Gainesville, Clermont, Garland, and Murrayville.

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 3435 8387 3441 8398 3457 8392 3457 8377
      3446 8368
TIME...MOT...LOC 1815Z 210DEG 15KT 3441 8389

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

Culver

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
217 PM EDT Fri May 22 2026

GAZ024-025-027-221830-
Madison GA-Banks GA-Jackson GA-
217 PM EDT Fri May 22 2026

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern
Banks, northeastern Jackson and northwestern Madison Counties
through 230 PM EDT...

At 217 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was near Commerce, moving
northeast at 10 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...
Commerce and Pocataligo.

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 3426 8334 3424 8334 3426 8330 3424 8324
      3425 8324 3425 8323 3424 8322 3414 8337
      3420 8347 3433 8339
TIME...MOT...LOC 1817Z 219DEG 11KT 3421 8338

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

Culver

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
232 PM EDT Fri May 22 2026

GAZ024-027-221845-
Madison GA-Banks GA-
232 PM EDT Fri May 22 2026

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern
Banks and northwestern Madison Counties through 245 PM EDT...

At 232 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was near Pocataligo, or 7 miles
northeast of Commerce, moving northeast at 10 mph.

HAZARD...40 to 50 mph wind, nickel 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...
Pocataligo.

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 3432 8339 3426 8334 3424 8334 3426 8330
      3424 8324 3425 8324 3425 8320 3424 8318
      3418 8332 3426 8343 3434 8339
TIME...MOT...LOC 1832Z 219DEG 10KT 3426 8334

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

Culver

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
247 PM EDT Fri May 22 2026

GAZ023-024-221915-
Banks GA-Hall GA-
247 PM EDT Fri May 22 2026

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern
Banks and northeastern Hall Counties through 315 PM EDT...

At 247 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was over Gillsville, or 7 miles
west of Homer, 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...
Lula, Gillsville, and Hollingsworth.

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 3442 8345 3429 8360 3430 8363 3437 8374
      3449 8366 3443 8361 3444 8361 3445 8358
      3448 8356 3449 8354 3449 8352
TIME...MOT...LOC 1847Z 210DEG 14KT 3435 8362

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

Culver

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
308 PM EDT Fri May 22 2026

GAZ080-091-092-221945-
Schley GA-Taylor GA-Marion GA-
308 PM EDT Fri May 22 2026

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of Marion,
northwestern Schley and southwestern Taylor Counties through 345
PM EDT...

At 308 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was over Buena Vista, moving
north at 25 mph.

HAZARD...40 to 50 mph wind, nickel 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...
Buena Vista, Putnam, Brantley, Tazewell, Marion Estates, Doyle,
Charing, Oakland, and Mauk.

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 3223 8460 3252 8460 3253 8456 3254 8457
      3255 8455 3254 8454 3255 8453 3254 8453
      3254 8451 3255 8449 3256 8449 3256 8441
      3252 8429 3221 8443
TIME...MOT...LOC 1908Z 189DEG 23KT 3233 8449

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

Culver