Dry weather leads to fire weather concerns

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Current satellite loop shows mostly clear skies across the area as high pressure builds into the state from the northeast. The ridge is centered over the Great

Lake states and will move to the New England area through the morning. This ridge stays fairly stationary through Thursday morning nosing down the eastern seaboard keeping things dry. Our biggest concern over the next few days will be gusty winds and dry conditions putting the state under fire weather concerns. Afternoon minimum relative humidity values will be in the 20 percent to 30 percent range through the rest of the week. Combined with gusty east winds we will see portions of north and Middle Georgia under Fire Danger Statements and possibly a Fire Weather Watch, or Red Flag Warning. Highs Wednesday in the 60s to lower 70s. Temperatures cool off a bit Wednesday night with lows mainly in the 40s and some upper 30s across the Northeast Georgia mountains. With the polar jet in a broad ridging pattern, the surface high will be in position that the region remains in a east to southeast flow Thursday. This flow will be further supported by upper level troughing over the southeast leading to storms off the Florida/Georgia/South Carolina coast. As the subtropical jet surges and building ridging across the southeast as well, the high expands across the state and over the Gulf Coast. Weakening easterly flow and an increase in sinking air brings temperatures up to above normal for the weekend. Highs by Saturday will return to the mid 80s for all except higher elevations of North Georgia. The only chance for precipitation will be across the far southern region as the subtropical jet surges  on Thursday. This may result in a few spotty light showers.