Summertime weather grips Middle Georgia

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Convective coverage will be lower but not zero this afternoon as broad upper ridging remains expansive across the South. Locally heavy rainfall and 

lightning will be possible in a few cells before quickly dissipating after sunset. Muggy and warm conditions will prevail overnight with lows in the 70s. High temperatures will also warm a notch above yesterday with the bulk of the area reaching the low 90s with mid 90s in parts of Middle Georgia. Given continued steamy dewpoints in the 70s, afternoon heat index values will creep into the upper 90s to low 100s! Typical summertime weather continues through Saturday, with warm and humid conditions and daily afternoon showers and thunderstorms. A mid-level ridge over

the region will try its best to prevent much from popping up, but sufficient moisture and heating will allow convection to fire off. While no widespread severe weather is anticipated at this time, we could see a  strong storm or two each day, capable of producing frequent lightning, heavy rainfall, and gusty winds. This threat would be highest on Saturday as a weakening front pushes into the  Southeast. High temperatures will be in the low to mid 90s each day, with heat index values in the 95-100 degree range in North Georgia, and 100-110 in Middle Georgia. On Sunday, models are in good agreement on the ridge breaking down as a potent shortwave dives across the Midwest and send a front into the Southeast. This will be the start of a period of wet weather lasting through the middle of next week, as longwave troughing establishes over most of the eastern U.S. and flow over Georgia shifts out of the west to southwest. Moisture  surging in off the Gulf increases moisture values by Monday, supporting numerous to widespread showers and thunderstorms through at least Tuesday. While it will remain quite humid, the amount of cloud cover will likely knock temperatures down a bit from what we see this week.