Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Atlanta, GA
Issued by NWS Atlanta, GA
Versions:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
918 FXUS62 KFFC 031133 AFDFFC Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 633 AM EST Tue Mar 3 2026 ...New 12Z Aviation Discussion... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 609 AM EST Tue Mar 3 2026 - Cloudy and cooler conditions, particularly across northeast GA, will be felt through Tonight due to a building CAD wedge. - Spring-like warmth mid-week through the weekend. - Rain chances return late this week through the weekend. && .SHORT TERM... (Today through Wednesday) Issued at 240 AM EST Tue Mar 3 2026 Low ceilings moving into the area as the CAD wedge strengthens this morning. High pressure centered just off the upper east coast building down the the eastern seaboard with cool, moist, easterly flow pushing into NE GA. This wedge of high pressure will continue across the area today keeping cloudy conditions across most of north and central GA. Temps across NE portions of the state will be much cooler due to the cool easterly flow under the wedge so expecting highs in the 50s and lower 60s across that area. The wedge does begin to weaken this afternoon and we will see the clouds scatter out, but low ceilings will build back in as the easterly flow continues over night. Winds turn to the S to SE shortly after sunrise Wednesday so not expecting as much cloud cover tomorrow. Temps will be warmer Wednesday with highs in the 70s to lower 80s. && .LONG TERM... (Wednesday night through Monday) Issued at 240 AM EST Tue Mar 3 2026 Thursday & Friday: The latest ensemble guidance seems to be in better agreement regarding the strength of the expansive subtropical ridge over the Eastern Seaboard at the end of the week. This latest forecast package favors reduced PoPs on Thursday and Friday, as the drying/stabilizing effects of the ridge may be enough to keep shower and storm development isolated at most. Widespread highs in the 80s are expected both days. If this drier synoptic setup is realized and cloud cover remains minimal, daily record highs at our four main climate sites (ATL, AHN, CSG, MCN) may be met or broken. This Weekend & Monday: Ensemble guidance is in general agreement that the subtropical ridge will gradually relinquish its grip over north and central Georgia Saturday into Sunday as a mid-/upper-level shortwave trough traverses the northern tier of the CONUS and zonal flow expands southward across the Ohio River Valley. The result is 30% to 50% PoPs each day, which translates to daily potential for isolated to scattered showers and storms. Strong winds aloft have been consistently progged to remain well north of the County Warning Area (CWA) so kinematics will be lacking for storm organization and longevity. Marginal instability (at a minimum) should not be hard to come by, though, given Gulf moisture overspreading the region amid deep-layer southerly flow. As a result, there will be potential for isolated thunderstorms. The weak winds aloft coupled with diurnally- driven instability sets the stage for a summer-like pattern, so a widespread severe weather threat continues to look unlikely. Similar to Thursday and Friday, high temperatures will continue to run 15-20 degrees above average for early March. && .AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 609 AM EST Tue Mar 3 2026 No major changes from the 06z Tafs. Low ceilings continuing across the TAF sites this morning. These low ceilings associated with the CAD wedge across the state. These low ceilings will continue through most of the day but will see them SCT out late afternoon as the wedge begins to loose strength. Low ceilings will build back in early Wed morning but they will be short lived. Winds will stay mainly out of the E in the 8-12kt range turning to the SE Wed morning. Wind speeds Wed will only get up into the 3-7kt range. No precipitation or restrictions to VSBYs expected. //ATL Confidence...12Z Update... Confidence high on all elements. 01 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Athens 62 49 76 55 / 0 0 0 0 Atlanta 65 52 78 58 / 0 0 0 0 Blairsville 59 45 74 50 / 0 0 0 0 Cartersville 65 52 79 57 / 0 0 0 0 Columbus 75 53 81 58 / 0 0 0 0 Gainesville 59 49 76 54 / 0 0 0 0 Macon 72 52 79 57 / 0 0 0 0 Rome 69 53 83 57 / 0 0 0 0 Peachtree City 68 51 78 56 / 0 0 0 0 Vidalia 74 55 81 58 / 0 0 0 0 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ SHORT TERM...01 LONG TERM....Martin AVIATION...01