FXUS62 KFFC 231928 AFDFFC Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 328 PM EDT Thu Apr 23 2026 ...Afternoon Area Forecast Discussion... .KEY MESSAGES... - A hazy sky will persist across parts of the area through Friday as wildfire smoke moves northward from southern Georgia and northern Florida. - Dry conditions will persist through Friday, leading to fire weather concerns for much of the area. - Showers and thunderstorms are expected across much of the area Saturday through the middle of next week. Widespread severe weather is not expected at this time, but decent rainfall may improve drought conditions in some areas. && .SHORT TERM... (This evening through Friday) Issued at 308 PM EDT Thu Apr 23 2026 High pressure over the Southeast will maintain warm, dry conditions through tomorrow (Friday). Fair-weather cumulus has developed this afternoon and will develop again tomorrow afternoon. A Fire Danger Statement is in effect until 8 PM this evening for all of the County Warning Area (CWA) due to very dry vegetation and low relative humidity. Another Fire Danger Statement will be needed for tomorrow afternoon and evening across at least parts of the area. Residents are encouraged to reference their local sheriff or fire departments for information on burn restrictions or burn bans. Wildfire smoke has been visible on satellite imagery today, but has remained aloft, evidenced by a lack of surface visibility reductions and reports of haze. Weak low-level/mid-level southwesterly flow will persist tomorrow, so a hazy sky will be possible for parts of the area as wildfire smoke continues to push northward out of southern Georgia and northern Florida. Showers and potentially storms ahead of a cold front will push into northwest Georgia Friday night into early Saturday morning, which will begin to scour out remaining smoke over the area. && .LONG TERM... (Saturday morning through next Wednesday) Issued at 308 PM EDT Thu Apr 23 2026 A much needed change in the weather pattern is on the horizon. By Sat morning a weak frontal boundary will have moved into NW GA with showers and isolated thunderstorms moving SE across the area. The parent low pressure system will weaken and forcing ahead of the front will diminish as it sinks into central Georgia, with precipitation becoming more scattered. High temps Sat afternoon will get up into the mid to upper 70s along and north of the I-85 corridor and into the 80s to the south. However, with low level shear ahead of the front progged to be fairly weak and forcing diminishing in the afternoon, it appears that conditions will not align for a widespread severe weather threat. Will see mainly gusty winds and frequent lightning with any thunderstorms that do develop. On Sunday, the front will stall across south-central Georgia and a weak mid-level ridge will quickly pass north of the forecast area, which will allow temps to rebound into the mid to upper 80s in all but the northeast Georgia mountains. The influence of this ridge will also help limit PoPs to 20% or less across north Georgia, though PoPs of 25-40% will remain for areas south of Columbus and Macon. An unsettled weather pattern will continue Monday as the ridge is displaced further away to the north and a mid-level disturbance overruns the stalled front. Late Monday into Tuesday, a shortwave trough and strengthening low pressure system will advance from the Great Plains through the Midwest, with another cold front extending into the Southeast. More widespread showers and thunderstorms are forecast to return late Monday night through Tuesday. With a warm and moist environment in place, and more robust shear profiles compared to Saturday, the potential for severe weather associated with this system will need to be monitored. Rainfall amounts from Friday night through Tuesday are forecast to be between 1.5-2.5" north of I-85, with progressively diminishing amounts to the south and east, down to about 0.5" in east-central Georgia. Locally higher totals will be possible where stronger storms occur. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 125 PM EDT Thu Apr 23 2026 No CIG restrictions are expected through the TAF period. Smoke from wildfires in S Georgia and N Florida has remained aloft thus far today, so not expecting reductions in VIS due to HZ at the TAF sites. Diurnally-driven SCT Cu around 7 kft has developed today and will develop again tomorrow (Friday) afternoon. Light SW winds (around 3-6 kts) will give way to light/VRB to calm winds overnight. Winds will remain SW at 4-8 kts tomorrow. //ATL Confidence...18Z Update... High confidence on all elements. Martin && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Athens 56 83 60 80 / 0 0 10 70 Atlanta 60 83 63 79 / 0 0 30 80 Blairsville 52 78 55 74 / 0 10 40 80 Cartersville 56 85 60 80 / 0 10 50 80 Columbus 57 86 61 83 / 0 0 20 80 Gainesville 58 83 62 79 / 0 10 30 80 Macon 57 86 61 83 / 0 0 10 60 Rome 54 85 60 81 / 0 10 60 80 Peachtree City 56 84 60 81 / 0 0 30 80 Vidalia 57 88 62 89 / 0 10 0 40 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ SHORT TERM...Martin LONG TERM....01/King AVIATION...Martin