A good soaking rain for Tuesday

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The front that we’ve been tracking has finally arrived and now we have a cold rain for most of Tuesday. If you’re looking to get outside, bring a raincoat and perhaps rain boots because this is going to be a soaker. A few rumbles of thunder are possible across the far southern portions of the coverage area but widespread thunderstorms are not expected at this time. The front is pretty quick and by Tuesday afternoon most of the precipitation should push off to the east.  Quite the difference 24 hours can make in the forecast. The long term picks up Wednesday with what looks to be the only sunny day we may get this week. Shortwave ridging sets up over the area as the surface high slides by the area overhead. With another reinforcing shot of cold air having moved into the area with that high pressure, highs will be in the 50s across the region except the mountains, which will be in the 40s. The biggest change to the forecast occurs on the back end of this week. The initial wave with connections to the Arctic side of the jet is expected to move over the northeast dragging a surface front towards north Georgia that will stall at or near the area. The strength of the surface high over the northeast has weakened significantly. We are still expecting a shortwave to eject out of the 4 corners regions within the southern branch of the jet of Friday that will provide for lift and development of a low that will move over the area. With the weakening surface high, the cold air damming isn’t as strong, so surface temps will remain well above freezing, and even the slight winter chances are seemingly decreasing at this time. It just looks like another cold rain on Friday night into Saturday, with the only remaining question being just how much. Models are a bit varied at this time.