Special Weather Statement, NWS Atlanta, GA

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
229 PM EDT Fri Jul 3 2026

...Afternoon Area Forecast Discussion...

.KEY MESSAGES...

 - Dangerous heat to persist through Independence Day. Heat index
   values between 102-109 degrees with overnight heat index values
   remaining close to or above 80 degrees are expected.

 - Elevated temperatures and the chance for thunderstorms each
   afternoon will continue from Sunday through much of next week.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(This afternoon through Saturday)
Issued at 224 PM EDT Fri Jul 3 2026

Scattered thunderstorms have begun to develop across the northern
two-thirds of the forecast area, with activity expected to continue
into the evening. The pattern remains largely unchanged, with an
unseasonably warm and humid airmass supporting instability that
exceeds that of a typical summer day (surface-based CAPE of
approximately 4300 J/kg on yesterday's 00Z sounding, which exceeds
the 90th percentile climatologically). Notably, mixed-layer CAPE is
in the slightly more modest 2000-2500 J/kg range, and model sounding
profiles depict more substantial dry air in the mid-levels than on
previous days. This entrainment will help to tamp down on the
theoretical ceiling of our severe potential/hazards, even so, a well-
deserved Marginal (level 1 out of 5) Risk is in place for the
northern half of the forecast area this afternoon. Even in the
absence of meaningful kinematics, any storms that form today will
have strong upward pulses, enough to pack a punch as they collapse.
Damaging wind gusts (generally up to 60 mph) is possible in the
strongest storms of the day. Convective coverage will be patchy,
providing little relief from lingering oppressive heat for most.
Highs this afternoon are expected to be in the mid-to-upper 90s for
all but far northeast Georgia, which will remain in the 80s. Heat
index values will be as high as 102-109 degrees, and a Heat Advisory
remains in effect through tomorrow evening for dangerous heat that
will continue even overnight.

Independence Day is poised be unseasonably hot and mostly dry, as
the ridging that has supported our multi-day heat wave begins to
break down. Isolated thunderstorms are possible -- primarily across
far northern and western Georgia along the Alabama state line -- as
moisture begins to intrude upon the deteriorating heat dome, but
coverage yet again is unlikely to provide much (if any) relief from
the lingering heat. Confidence in potentially dangerous heat remains
high. Highs areawide will be in the mid-to-upper 90s, with heat
index values in the triple digits for all but the terrain of far
northeast Georgia. Outdoor activities are a hallmark of the holiday
weekend, and with continued oppressive heat, precautions must be
taken to lessen likelihood of heated-related illnesses. Ensure that
you are taking frequent hydration breaks (in the shade if at all
possible), wearing loose, light-colored clothing, and checking in on
your people. Apparent/"feels like" temperatures will cross the 90
degree mark by 10AM tomorrow, and will likely not cross below that
threshold until 11PM, meaning it may still be uncomfortably hot even
after the sun goes down.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Sunday morning through next Thursday)
Issued at 224 PM EDT Fri Jul 3 2026

Nothing out of the norm weather wise expected for the long term. A
midlevel trough will swing through the Ohio/TN Valley between Sunday
and Monday, likely increasing rain/thunder chances across parts of
North GA during the afternoon. Following the passage of this
feature, weak mid-level ridging and surface high pressure will
remain in place over the western Atlantic extending back into parts
of the Southeast through most of next week. This will keep a steady
stream of moisture flow into the region driving daily afternoon rain
and thunder chances each day. Additionally, temperatures will remain
quite warm with daily forecast highs in the upper 80s to 90s and
forecast lows in the 70s (5-10 deg cooler in the mountains). Heat
indices will follow suit with values expected to hover in the upper
90s to low 100s over the next 5-7 days.

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 130 PM EDT Fri Jul 3 2026

VFR conds to continue thru the TAF pd. FEW-SCT aftn cu at 4-7kft
exp from 15-00Z today and tmrw, with 10-20kft cigs overnight.
Isold to sct TSRA psbl from 18-22Z today, and a lower chc from
17-22Z tmrw. Heaviest pcpn may be accompanied by MVFR vsbys. Winds
will be light (6kts or less) thru the pd, generally favoring the
W side at metro TAF sites.

//ATL Confidence...18Z Update...
Medium confidence afternoon thunderstorm chances.
High confidence all other elements.

96

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Athens          74  98  75  97 /   0  10   0  30
Atlanta         77  97  77  95 /   0  10  10  40
Blairsville     70  90  70  88 /   0  20  10  50
Cartersville    74  96  75  95 /  10  20  10  50
Columbus        76  97  76  95 /   0  10  20  30
Gainesville     75  97  75  96 /   0  10  10  40
Macon           75  97  76  96 /   0  10  10  30
Rome            74  96  74  95 /  10  20  20  60
Peachtree City  74  95  74  94 /  10  10  10  30
Vidalia         73  99  76  99 /   0  10   0  30

&&

.FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT Saturday for GAZ001>007-011>014-
019>025-027-030>039-041>062.

&&

SHORT TERM...96
LONG TERM....07
AVIATION...96

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
230 PM EDT Fri Jul 3 2026

GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086-
089>098-102>113-041830-
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-
230 PM EDT Fri Jul 3 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north and central Georgia.

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

A Heat Advisory remains in effect through Saturday, with heat
index values forecast to reach as high as 109 degrees in the
afternoon and near 80 during the overnight period.

Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are expected through early
evening mainly along and north of Interstate 20 and Interstate 85.
Several storms may become strong to severe, capable of producing
damaging wind gusts, quarter size hail and frequent lightning.

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

Hot conditions persist, with heat index values forecast to be in
excess of 105 in portions of North Georgia and 100 across central
GA over the next five days.

Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are possible each afternoon
through the middle of next week.

.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
250 PM EDT Fri Jul 3 2026

GAZ033-034-031915-
North Fulton GA-Gwinnett GA-
250 PM EDT Fri Jul 3 2026

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of west central
Gwinnett and east central Fulton Counties through 315 PM EDT...

At 250 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was over Norcross, or over
Peachtree Corners, moving west 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...
Peachtree Corners, Sandy Springs, Duluth, Lilburn, Norcross, Berkeley
Lake, and Mechanicsville.

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 3400 8407 3387 8414 3393 8426 3394 8427
      3395 8427 3396 8428 3405 8421
TIME...MOT...LOC 1850Z 103DEG 15KT 3396 8420

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

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
251 PM EDT Fri Jul 3 2026

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

0220 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 NW Talona             34.61N 84.52W
07/03/2026                   Gilmer             GA   Amateur Radio

            Several trees downed along Roundtop Road,
            specifically near the intersection of Old
            Highway 5 South.

&&

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Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
302 PM EDT Fri Jul 3 2026

GAZ012-013-020-021-031930-
Cherokee GA-Gordon GA-Bartow GA-Pickens GA-
302 PM EDT Fri Jul 3 2026

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of northwestern
Cherokee, eastern Gordon, southwestern Pickens and northeastern
Bartow Counties through 330 PM EDT...

At 302 PM EDT, a line of strong thunderstorms was along a line
extending from Nickelsville to near Ranger to near Talmadge, and
moving southwest at 15 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...
Calhoun, Resaca, Fairmount, Ranger, Sonoraville, Redbud, Folsom,
Audubon, Salacoa Valley, Talmadge, Funkhouser, Nickelsville, and
Hinton.

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 3460 8498 3438 8487 3431 8457 3446 8449
      3450 8463 3461 8479
TIME...MOT...LOC 1902Z 063DEG 15KT 3463 8485 3447 8471 3439 8455

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

Culver