/r/AtlantaWeather
Upcoming weather alerts, weather analysis and discussion for the Atlanta area.
Upcoming weather alerts, weather analysis and discussion for the Atlanta area.
Our NWS weather forecast office (WFO) is Falcon Field, Peachtree City (FFC):
Model graphics and forecasting products:
Model run times in EST (when they start)
GDOT Road/Air Temperature Graphs
CPC 30-day outlook discussion (issued semimonthly)
Georgia Weather on Discord - live audio/chat system utilized during severe weather events
/r/AtlantaWeather
Wondering how much rain Atlanta got. I'm reading that it was a record amount but not seeing the total. Thanks!
🌪️ Short Term Forecast: Buckle up, folks—Hurricane Helene is about to throw a temper tantrum, and she’s not holding back! Here’s what you need to know, with a little humor to ease the pain.
Issued at 3:26 AM EDT on Thursday, Sep 26, 2024—because apparently, storms don’t sleep. The forecast will be dominated by Hurricane Helene, who’s charging into the Gulf of Mexico like she owns the place. She’s headed north, aiming to crash the Florida Big Bend coast party this evening. After that, she’ll boogie through the state overnight and saunter into the Tennessee Valley on Friday. Don’t expect her to lose steam too quickly—her rapid northward sprint means damaging wind gusts could hit pretty far inland.
Remember that little PRE (Predecessor Rain Event) we had yesterday? Yeah, that was just the appetizer. The ground is soaked, and Helene’s about to dump the main course. 🌧️ Along the I-85 corridor, rainfall yesterday ranged from 2 to 4 inches, with some overachievers hitting 5 inches. Today, expect more heavy rain along this corridor, with amounts between 3 and 5 inches—and yes, some areas will be looking at even more.
As Helene moves her party north overnight into early Friday, the heaviest rain will shift to the northeast portion of the area. Expect another 2 to 4 inches, with higher amounts in the mountainous areas of Northeast Georgia (those hills are thirsty!). By Friday, Helene will start to wander off to the northwest, and the rain will finally begin to taper off, but areas north of I-20 can still expect another 0.25 to 1 inch of rain. 💧
Total storm rainfall from today through Friday: 3 to 6 inches, with up to 8 inches possible in the really soggy spots. Grab those rain boots, you’ll need ‘em. 🥾
Helene’s not just bringing the rain—she’s got wind power to spare. Expect her to be stronger than your average inland storm because she’s in a hurry. The strongest winds will whip up this evening through Friday, especially in areas south of I-20 later today and north of I-20 overnight into early Friday.
⚠️ Wind gusts: 70 to 80 mph are expected, even deep inland into northern Georgia. That’s the kind of wind that makes you think twice about having a roof over your head. Hold onto your hats, and maybe your entire house. 🎩🏡
Oh, and just to spice things up, there’s a chance for tropical tornadoes too! The prime candidates for a spin are areas along and east of a line from Helen to Peachtree City to Columbus. The tornado potential will start ramping up across the southeastern parts of the state later today and spread northward overnight. If you hear a freight train sound and you’re not near any tracks, you might want to duck and cover. 🚂
Stay safe, stay dry, and remember: Mother Nature has a wicked sense of humor.
Seems like we’re going to get hit with a Category 1/2 up here? Outlook seems to change every couple hours!
Howdy y’all. I’m helping with an event in Roswell this weekend and we’re stressing about the weather. It’s an outdoor event at a local park with a trail system. We have some activities on Friday from 12-9pm, and all day Saturday. Weather is somewhat critical (ie we’d rather not have it be pouring rain during event times).
The weather forecasts I’ve seen are all over the place, but I was wondering if any of y’all might have any insight into whatever the current weather patterns are.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the likely hood of getting measurable amounts of rain between Thursday and Sunday.
Weird request, I know. Thanks for reading!
Just had some nasty weather whip through the metro Atlanta area. Here are some good resources for keeping up with the action.
https://noaa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=ea8b0eeb2e9c45b790329c0ed2fdc225
Drought conditions have continued to worsen over the last several weeks. ATL Hartsfield Jackson Airport was 2.8" below normal on rainfall for the month of June! So far through the first three days of July, no precip has fallen at the Airport or anywhere across the state for that matter. To make matters worse we are under a heat advisory for heat indices of 105 degrees F for today and tomorrow. The lack of rain and dry soil is amplifying the surface temps in addition to the SE Ridge and large scale subsidence we're seeing in this hot and dry pattern. The good news is more deep moisture ahead of a approaching cold front will bring the possibility for widespread showers and thunderstorms Friday and Saturday. However, given how things have always gone against us this year, don't be surprised if you don't get any rain either.
Today’s NWS Morning Area Forecast Discussion offered up the following:
With a weak lobe of high pressure lingering at the surface, our uncharacteristically dry airmass will remain in place for another day. Dewpoints this afternoon will once again drop into the mid-50s to lower-60s, between the 10th and 25th percentile per SPC's Sounding Climatology, under the influence of impressive mixing. Highs this afternoon are expected to surge back into the upper-90s to lower triple digits this afternoon, supportive of dewpoint depressions of 35-40 degrees (!). This, combined with stout capping lingering at the top of our mixed layer (shown well on yesterday's 26/00Z sounding), should be enough to continue to prevent meaningful rain chances this afternoon -- aside from an isolated shower or thunderstorm in the vicinity of the stalled front along our far southern tier.
What does this mean to the average Atlantan? Let’s break it down!👨🎓
High Pressure System:
Dry Airmass:
Percentiles and Climatology:
Mixing and Temperatures:
Dewpoint Depressions:
Capping and Rain Chances:
Overall, the forecast highlights a continuation of hot, dry, and stable conditions with minimal chances for precipitation. Stay cool 😎 and weather-wise!☀️🥵
Today:
• Quieter start compared to yesterday. Ah, the calm before the storm. 😌
• Rain from yesterday and clear skies overnight = patchy mist and fog this morning. 🌧️🌫️
• Georgia is stuck between a subtropical ridge and a Great Plains trough with a sneaky shortwave. 🌀
• Thunderstorms partying in the Ozarks. If they organize and crash into north GA later today, expect:
• CAPE 1000-1500 J/kg (storm fuel, baby!) ⚡
• Effective bulk shear 30 kts+ (perfect for damaging wind gusts and large hail) 💨🌨️
• Main PoPs (Probability of Precipitation) today are up north. 📍
Tonight:
• Main event: Organized storm line (MCS) likely to hit northern GA. 🌩️
• Elevated CAPE, mixed surface = minimal nocturnal cooling effect. 🌙
• Expect the storm line after midnight, lasting into the morning. ⏰🌩️
• Slight Risk (Level 2 of 5) for north GA with damaging winds as the main threat. Watch out for brief spin-up tornadoes. 🌪️🌀
Monday:
• Morning: Storm line decays as it moves south, losing upper-level support. 🌥️
• Afternoon: What happens next depends on the morning storms. If conditions reset:
• SBCAPE values soar to 2000+ J/kg. 🌡️⚡
• Plenty of shear for organizing cold pools and storm potential. 🌪️
• Slight Risk for western GA, Marginal Risk elsewhere. Could expand. 📍⚠️
Stay weather-aware, Georgia! 🌪️🌩️⚡
Saturday:
• The Southeast is in a tug-of-war between a subtropical ridge and a storm system from the Great Plains.
• Moisture overload: PWATs at 1.3-1.4”. (Translation: it’s humid.)
• Thunderstorms have been showing off to the west and north of Georgia.
• Lack of organized storm systems today means scattered thunderstorms from north GA down into central GA.
• Highs in the upper 80s to low 90s. Cloud cover? Meh, it won’t stop the heat.
• CAPE at 1000-1500 J/kg. Fancy talk for “storm fuel.”
• Threats: Isolated severe storms with quarter-sized hail and damaging winds.
• Marginal Risk (Level 1 of 5) for severe weather. Nothing too crazy, but stay alert.
Sunday:
• Mostly dry during the day.
• Evening might get spicy with potential storm development.
• Could be one of the hottest days of the year: 90s reaching into the metro area.
• Hydrate, sunscreen, and try not to melt.
Stay safe out there!
Long term forecast - Tuesday morning through next Saturday
Recent global model guidance paints a rosy picture for the week ahead - no major weather worries on the horizon. However, brace yourselves for potential storms brewing Thursday through Saturday, with a chance of them flexing their muscles to strong or marginally severe levels, depending on the wind shear and surface forces.
🌡️ Hotter Than Hot! Get ready to feel the heat as temperatures soar well above normal, with anomalies ranging from +5 to +10 degrees Fahrenheit. We’re talking max temps flirting with the 90s from Tuesday straight through to Saturday. Experimental NWS HeatRisk values hint at a minor heatwave, with a few spots flirting with a moderate risk. Check out www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/heatrisk/ for more details and the latest updates.
🌀 No Tropical Storms in Sight No need to batten down the hatches - tropical storm formation isn’t on the agenda through Saturday.
An upper level trough will move across the Mid Mississippi Valley tomorrow afternoon which will provide the necessary lift and moisture into Georgia during the day Tuesday. There remains some uncertainty in the overall evolution of these thunderstorms as a large complex of storms will be moving eastward across south GA and the FL Panhandle during the morning to early afternoon. The exact timing and cloud cover produced by this complex of storms will determine how quickly the atmosphere can destabilize (sun coming back out) for daytime heating required for thunderstorm generation later in the day. The later the clouds clear out the less coverage and severe storms will be and vice versa. The orientation of the upper level jet stream favors a good bit of lift necessary for storm formation, especially over NW and Western GA.
Modeled 300 mb Jet Stream from the NAM for Tuesday, May 14th at 5pm EDT
Forecast soundings show enough instability and shear from the trough to produce large hail and damaging winds as the primary threats, however there is enough curvature in the low levels of the atmosphere for a possible tornado or two in the strongest storms, especially if they can remain discrete in nature. Here is a forecast sounding below.
NAM Forecast Sounding for ATL at 5pm EDT Tuesday
All CAM's (Convective Allowing Models) show widespread coverage of showers and thunderstorms. Severe of not, there will be rain and thunder close to your neighborhood tomorrow. BELOW IS AN ANIMATED LOOP OF THE CAMS SHOWING THE STORM TIMING FOR TUES.
A rare, Severe Geomagnetic Storm is expected to hit earth this weekend! Given the rarity of this event and the intensity of coronal mass ejection, the Aurora Borealis could be sighted as far south as 35N latitude. Given the magnitude, this event could make the northernlights visible as far south as the north GA mountains and maybe even the suburbs of ATL. The best viewing will be under clear skies with low light pollution. Best viewing will be in rural areas. Good news is mostly clear to clear skies are expected this weekend!
We are on the cusp of entering into May and there has been little to no severe weather across North Georgia or much of the South for that matter. "Calm" has been a common theme for weather nerds this year like myself who like any other exciting weather outside of boring rain and sun. At this point storm junkies are just going to have to settle on some occasional severe air mass Thunderstorms that pop-up in the afternoon during the heart of the summer months. Given the state of the oceans, a well above average Hurricane Season is likely to happen this year and I am holding out some hope ATL will get some tropical weather to hopefully break this drought of calm later this Summer into the Fall months. Enjoy the beautiful "calm" for now I guess!
Data from Jan 1st, 2024 to now
Data from Jan 1st, 2024 to now
Data from Jan 1st, 2024 to now
I know it’s not Atlanta… but some friends and I are traveling to Austin, Texas for a few days to celebrate my 40th and watch the eclipse. We’re doing a day trip to Killeen, Tx to get maximum totality on eclipse day. So far, the weather isn’t looking great… are there any models that would give us some hope? Thanks!
The National Weather Service in Peachtree City has placed all the ATL Metro in a Flood watch from 7pm Friday through 1 am EST Sunday for rainfall totals anywhere from 1.5-4" (locally 5"+ inches) in the heaviest thunderstorms. Given our recent rainfall and already saturated soils flash flooding will be much easier to achieve with lower amounts. Creeks and rivers are already near or at Minor flood stage for most of the area further adding validity to the flood concern.
WPC (Weather Prediction Center) has outlined ATL proper and much of the Western and Southern Suburbs within a Moderate Risk for Flash Flooding. Right now the weather models have been honing in on the maximum rainfall amounts along and just south of I-20.
This weeks long term forecast Monday night through Saturday
• Brace yourselves for a stormy saga unfolding this week!
• Get ready to dodge raindrops, especially towards the end of the week.
• It’s like Mother Nature’s decided to throw a hot tub party - temperatures are staying toasty!
Hold onto your hats (and umbrellas)! This week’s forecast reads like a plot from a weather-themed soap opera.
🌩️ Tuesday: Let the Show Begin! Picture this: a southern stream shortwave struts onto the scene, cueing showers and thunderstorms late Tuesday into Wednesday morning. No drama queens here though, just expect some healthy rainfall amounts without the theatrics of severe weather.
⛅ Thursday: Intermission, Anyone? Take a breather on Thursday as we catch our breath between storm systems. It’s like the calm before the next weather plot twist.
🌧️ Friday: And Action! Get ready for the sequel! Another round of widespread rainfall is set to hit the stage on Friday, with the potential for heavier downpours. It’s like a double feature of rain, with a side of potential flooding concerns!
🌡️ Warm & Toasty Temperatures: While the rain dances on, temperatures are keeping things cozy, like a warm blanket on a chilly night. Highs in the 70s mean you can leave your winter coat in the closet for now.
So grab your rain boots and your sense of humor, folks. It’s going to be a wet and wild week out there! 🌧️🎉 #StormySaga #WeatherSoapOpera
Today is March 1st which marks the first day of Meteorological Spring. Winter was yet another bust for the snow lovers out there. This is the second consecutive winter with no snow for almost the entire state of Georgia outside of the far northern counties at the highest elevations. Even by Georgia standards, we are officially in a snow drought. Last months temp departure from avg was 3-5 degrees above normal.
Similar to last winter (2022-2023), February was very warm, with 11 days greater than of equal to 70 degrees at ATL Hartsfield Jackson INTL. Last winters total departure from average for the month of Feb was 8.6 degrees above normal. This was skewed by two 80 degree high temp days! Straight up HOT! Feb of 2023 was one of the warmest for the month on record for Atlanta.
This February recorded 5 days greater than or equal to 70 degree high temps. The departure from average was 4.6 degrees above the normal. Now this is cooler than Feb of last year but still very warm and not common in El Nino Winters.
The map below is the total Snowfall from Oct 1st 2023 to Feb 29th 2024. The entire ATL Metro Area failed to record even a trace all season and barring a miracle in March we're going to have to wait till next winter for our next shot of snow.
Winter 2023-2024 in Conclusion:
This was one of the more warm El Nino Winters I can remember in my life time. Now I am only 28 years old so maybe some other old farts here remember El Nino Winters that were warmer but upon some digging I couldn't really find many. There are several factors to the very warm winter that the models failed to see in the long range. Number one the MJO failed to rotate into the cold (8,1, 2, and 3) phases during Jan and Feb this year and instead remained in the very warm (4, 5, 6, and 7 phases). Number two a very strong Pacific Jet Extension pumped warmer moist air across the western U.S. and into the Eastern Part of the Country for all of Dec and from late Jan through the entire month of Feb. Number three unfavorable storm tracks often placed GA in the warm sector of storm systems with lack of antecedent cold air for snow and ice. Number 4 bad luck and voodoo magic??!!
I’m wondering if anyone could explain why it’s been so much windier here over the last 1-2 years. I’ve lived in Georgia my whole life (27) and I’ve never experienced wind gusts like this. I would love to understand! Thank you!
🌞 [SHORT TERM: Today through Monday]
🌬️ High Pressure & Dry Delights: Expect a serene atmosphere today and tomorrow across north and central GA, courtesy of high pressure and dry conditions. However, keep an eye on the winds and low relative humidities, a recipe for potential fire weather concerns today.
💨 Windy Whispers: Today, good mixing is on the agenda, especially across the southern three quarters of the CWA. This mix will gracefully usher down the higher wind speeds aloft and the drier air aloft. Momentum transfer values for gusts remain below Wind Advisory criteria, yet sustained speeds between 18-20 kt warrant a Wind Advisory issuance. Areas south of the northern ATL suburbs and AHN stand the best chance of reaching criteria, with far north GA experiencing more marginal conditions, particularly outside of the higher elevations.
📅 LONG TERM: Monday Night through Saturday
🌧️ Semi-Zonal Serenity: For the extended period, expect an overall semi-zonal flow embracing the area, with a small wave meandering through the pattern on Tuesday, preluding the main front. This gentle wave will sprinkle scattered rain chances over far north GA, with amounts generally under a tenth of an inch.
☔ Midweek Musings: By Wednesday into Wednesday night, our next precipitation episode is forecast to grace GA as a trough gracefully swings northward of our area. However, dynamics don't seem poised to align with the front, struggling even if they were to synchronize. With the trough positioned so far north, dynamics face a challenge, resulting in a low severe risk on Wednesday. Any severe weather, if it materializes, looks more likely in far NW GA, closer to the trough and the dynamics to our north. Post-frontal passage, temperatures take a dip into the low to mid 30s for lows. Expect the possibility of a rain/snow mix in north GA, with no accumulation anticipated at this time.
🌡️ Temperature Tease: Highs aim for the 50-60 degree range into Friday, bringing us closer to normal. By Friday into Saturday, another wave is set to dance through the area, bringing another round of precipitation. However, uncertainty reigns supreme regarding timing. Thunder finds a mention in the forecast, mainly for portions of southern central GA, where dynamics align for thunderstorms to accompany the rain.
🌟 Highlights:
• Dry spell persists through Thursday.
• Mild temperatures embrace us until Thursday, with a warm embrace anticipated by late week, extending into the weekend.
• Rain arrives, waltzing in from the southeast on Friday.
An upper ridge takes the stage, gracefully shifting eastward over the region Wednesday night and Thursday, gifting us with temperatures that sway above normal. As the ridge takes its final bow and exits stage right by Friday night, the next act unfolds – an upper low gliding across the northern tier of states, captivating our attention late in the week and throughout the weekend.
This mesmerizing spectacle ushers in a pre-frontal performance, a gentle band of showers pirouetting into the area from the northwest on Friday. While the dynamic support remains somewhat subdued, the rains linger, waltzing gracefully through the remainder of the weekend. The front, finding its place, stalls, while another, more southern upper trough takes center stage, deepening over the Southern Plains.
Yet, amidst this meteorological dance, a cloak of uncertainty envelops the overall upper pattern during this period. The latest QPF from Friday morning through Monday night paints a portrait of rainfall, ranging from 1.5-2” across the northern 2/3 of the County Warning Area, to just over 0.5” across the extreme southeast. The crescendo? Monday morning, as a deepening surface low elegantly glides by to the north.
🌡️ Temperature Temptations:
• A gentle embrace of near-normal temperatures envelops us through Thursday, before the allure of warmer-than-normal temperatures beckons by Friday, leading us into a weekend of toasty delights.
A pretty decent discussion with great graphics on the upcoming polar vortex event hitting us mid-month. The bottom line is don’t expect any snow and temps should dip somewhat from the norm but nothing extravagant.
Do not be fooled, Winter is far from over! Despite the relative quiet and warm period so far this month, I anticipate a major pattern flip around mid month. This post isn't meant to beat a dead horse because previous posts and headlines have pointed to this, however all the long range signals are in pretty much unanimous agreement on the changes to come. Increased Ice and Snow Chances (not guaranteed), severe weather during transition period, and prolonged anomalous cold lasting longer then 10 days are all on the table second half of Feb and possibly into early March.
The MJO is favored to rotate from phase 7 into 8 over the next 10-18 days. This will cause tropical forcing over the eastern IO to support subsidence (sinking air) and rising air (t-storms) to develop over the western IO. The downstream affects of this rising and sinking air will force latent heat release in the mid to upper atmosphere over the Pacific, building the ridge over the eastern Pacific and NW Canada, thus placing the trough over the Central and Eastern U.S. The models have been consistently seeing this occurring around the 14-15th of Feb and beyond.
MJO phase 8 as alluded too above supports cold for the Southeast and Georgia on average in El Nino Winters like (2023-2024).
NAO ECMWF Ensemble Extended Forecast
The European Ensemble Weeklies signally at the prolonged cold I talked about in the intro, possibly 10 + days as the MJO in phase 8 aligns with Greenland blocking represented by the -NAO depicted in the graph above.
ECMWF Ensemble Mean 5 Day Temp Anomaly (Departure from Avg)
The European Ensemble with the cold period Feb 14-19th, per todays model data. Temperatures on the order of 2-5 degrees below average (subject to change).
GFS Ensemble members for Surface Based CAPE at Peachtree-Dekalb Airport
Lastly, the possibility of severe wx will exist between the transition from warm (now-11th) and the cold air to proceed (14th-beyond). CAPE is a fancy meteorological word for available energy for T-storms. A little less than half of the 30 total ensemble members are showing "this energy" will be around for t-storm development around the 12-13th. Winter t-storms are usually accompanied by high wind shear driven low pressure systems so it doesn't take most instability via CAPE to cause isolated severe t-storms from forming in this area. At this point in time there is low confidence is this occurring but the signal is there and its something we'll need to watch going forward.
Thanks,
Meteorologist - Craig Tillison
High pressure takes center stage, orchestrating a symphony of beautiful, warm, and dry weather for the short term forecast. As the cirrus deck gracefully exits to the east this afternoon, temperatures take flight, soaring well above average for early February. Recent observations show temperatures outshining the forecast, prompting a switch to NBM90 for today's highs. The result? Most locations outside the north Georgia mountains savor mid-60s to low 70s.
To add a touch of precision, a blend of Hi-Res guidance is employed for this afternoon's dewpoints, tapping into a robust layer of dry air observed just above the surface in today's 12Z sounding. While several spots in central Georgia flirt with fire weather concerns due to relative humidity dipping below 25%, the duration doesn't quite meet the criteria for fire danger statements.
As the night unfolds, high pressure gracefully positions itself east of the Appalachians, orchestrating a gentle wind shift to the east. Brace yourself for another fantastic spring-like day on Saturday – a splendid dance of abundant sunshine and temperatures graciously pirouetting in the upper 50s to upper 60s across the entire area.
Savor the enchanting spell of this beautiful, spring-like weather today and tomorrow, for a pattern change whispers just beyond the short term period...
🌷 [Meteorological Harmony Unveiled] A Backstage Glimpse:
Embrace the meteorological ballet of beauty and warmth! 🌞🎭 #WeatherSymphony #SpringInFebruary
He's been dealing with some severe health issues so I'm glad to see he's doing well enough to look, analyze, and post about the weather!
Key Messages Brought to You by the Wind:
A cozy cloud blanket wraps the morning, gradually unveiling a clearer sky from east to west later today. Anticipate highs in the upper 50s to lower 60s in central and eastern GA, while the cloud cover dances a bit longer, keeping highs in the upper 40s to lower 50s farther north and west. The Wind Advisory for the northern realms of GA gracefully exits at midnight, but a breezy atmosphere lingers throughout the day, featuring northwest winds at 12-17 mph and gusts waltzing at 20-30 mph.
The upper-level trough, currently striking poses over the Appalachians and Eastern Seaboard, will gracefully shift eastward over the western Atlantic today. Following its act, a shortwave ridge takes the stage, crossing the Appalachians with the support of a longwave ridge upstream over the western CONUS. The result? High pressure takes the spotlight, painting a canvas of dry, sunny to mostly sunny conditions. Tomorrow morning's lows dip into the upper 20s to mid-30s, with a touch of mid-20s at the elevated mountain spots. As the day unfolds, tomorrow's highs waltz in, ranging from the lower 50s to lower 60s, with the higher elevations enjoying a mid to upper 40s spectacle.
🌞 [Weather Wisdom Unveiled] A Meteorological Peek Behind the Scenes:
Stay tuned for more weather tales! 🌬️🎭 #WindAdvisoryFinale #CloudsToSunshine