WEATHER: Fire danger elevated again today for all much of Georgia, temps back on the rise

The humidity remains low, the thermometer is on the rise and conditions are dry to the extreme. All of these elements have combined to make NWS Peachtree City meteorologists concerned that the potential for wildfires is high, especially if burning is done intentionally.

As it was earlier in the week, the National Weather Service office for the area is expecting fire conditions to remain high through 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 9 (today for those reading this post after it was posted.)

The dry vegetation, the humidity under 25% and wind gusts as high as 20 mph has a swath of the state under the potential for serious risk of fires being able to spread fast and cause serious damage. The forecasters are recommending that unless otherwise absolutely necessary, no fires should be lit for the day.

All of Northwest Georgia – Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Gordon, Haralson, Paulding, Polk, Walker and Whitfield counties – are included in the fire danger statement posted by NWS Peachtree City for April 9.

Metro Atlanta, North Georgia, West Georgia from I-20 to the Columbus area, and the Northeast Georgia mountains are also included in the statement.

Temperatures are rising after a slight cooling through the first half of the week, with highs up into the mid 70s for the day and dropping again into the 40s overnight. Friday’s forecast calls for highs reaching into the low 80s in some spots around the region (toward the southward end) and dipping back into the mid to upper 40s overnight.

Expect the weekend to see a real warming trend ahead, with highs in the mid 80s and lows into the 50s, and by the start of next week Northwest Georgia can expect highs in the upper 80s and lows in the upper 50s and low 60s.

Dry conditions are expected to persist, as sunshine dominates the forecast with mostly clear skies predicted by forecasters through the remainder of the week and into the start of next week. Don’t expect any rain through next week, and only slight chances in extended forecasts past the midway mark of the month.