Cool morning starts, with warmer afternoons kick off the week

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Georgia remains positioned between a mid-level ridge extending from the southern Great Plains towards the Great Lakes and a low pressure system

lingering near the New England coast. This area is under northwesterly flow aloft, which will continue to usher in dry air into the state, evidenced by dewpoints in the 40s. The dry airmass and high pressure associated with the ridge will continue to inhibit precipitation chances today. With mostly clear skies and strong radiational cooling, low temperatures each morning are forecast to

range from the upper 40s in far northeast Georgia to the mid 50s in South Middle Georgia. High temperatures will largely climb into the low to mid 80s, which will be about 3 to 6 degrees  above daily normal temperatures. Pleasant conditions will continue through the work week. Temperatures in the upper 80s and lower 90s for much of the region as high pressure begins to break down and winds become more southerly in the second half of the week. As we approach the weekend, the ridge will begin to break down and southerly flow will begin to pull moisture back into the region. This will bring  chances for thunderstorms back up to 20 to 50 percent during the afternoon on Friday with more widespread thunderstorms likely through the weekend. Temperatures should remain moderate in the upper 80s and lower 90s, although that is still running 5 to 10 degrees above normal for this time of the year.