WEATHER: Fire Danger for Northwest Georgia remains to cap off the week

A Fire Danger Statement is still in place for Northwest Georgia as low humidity, breezy winds and temperatures set to rise toward the 80 degree mark, according to the National Weather Service Peachtree City office.

Conditions are ripe once again for any outdoor fires to spread out-of-control, so NWS Peachtree City is once again asking individuals to not light brush fires for the remainder of the day. Counties included in the Fire Danger Statement include: Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Gordon, Haralson, Paulding, Polk, Walker and Whitfield counties.

The statement also includes the Northeast and Metro Atlanta counties as well.

A spring warmup is still underway following a brief cooldown, with temperatures heading into the mid to upper 80s over the weekend and into the start of next week. No rainfall is expected over the coming days as well, and drought conditions around Georgia will continue to deepen through the month.

Much of the state will continue to remain in extreme and exception drought conditions through the coming days, with the next 5 to 7 days increasing the likelihood the entire state will be under some state of dry weather for the time being.

Along with current conditions, a dry spell may be in store for the coming summertime months as well. This year’s El Nino cycle is developing into what forecasters are calling a Super El Nino, meaning that typical weather patterns through spring and summer will be disrupted. It will also disrupt hurricane development as wind sheer higher in the atmosphere will be pushing against development of Atlantic basin storms into hurricanes.

Expect sunshine and highs in the 80s through the coming week, with the potential for the forecast to include temps up into the 90s by the end of next week and into the weekend. Cooler temps will follow as a front pushes through by the beginning of the following week, with highs in the upper 70s and low 80s.