Above-normal temperatures ahead of cold front

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Before we get to a cold front and a good dose of Fall weather during the latter half of the week into the weekend, Middle Georgia will spend some time in the warm airmass ahead of the front. The front can be seen on satellite imagery roughly where there is a channel of moisture stretching from northern Mexico to the Great Lakes. This front will slowly sink southward through the day as the mid-upper level ridge currently over the Deep South weakens. We can expect isolated to scattered showers will occur mainly north of I-85 today, where the front is a source of lift. In addition, a weak boundary surging inland off the Atlantic will support isolated showers and possibly a storm or two across east-central Georgia. Plenty of cloud cover and warm temperatures aloft will limit instability, making for a slight chance (20%) of thunder at most. Enough clearing skies is happening to support highs in the 80s across much of the area. The cold front continues its trek southeastward and as a result, scattered showers will gradually spread southward during this timeframe. Showers will occur along and south of the line from Atlanta to LaGrange. Dense cloud cover and warm temperatures aloft should limit chances for thunderstorms. Highs will again make it into the 80s across much of the area. Total rainfall will be meager, about a quarter of an inch at most. By Thursday the frontal boundary will have stalled across south Georgia with just a few lingering showers across Middle Georgia. We will notice a cooler drier airmass move in behind the  frontal boundary. Expect clouds to diminish slowly  through Friday. A ridge of high pressure also develops over the eastern Great Lakes states and the New England area. This ridge begins to build down the eastern seaboard and into Northern Georgia by Friday morning.