Heat Advisory, Air Quality Alert Issued For Metro ATL: GA Weather

GEORGIA — The weather on Monday will be hot and potentially dangerous for certain groups of people, the National Weather Service said.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division, has issued a code orange air quality alert, unhealthy for sensitive groups, for metro Atlanta for Monday, Sept. 9.

Under code orange conditions, the outdoor air quality is likely to be unhealthy for some people. Children, people who are sensitive to ozone, and people with heart or lung disease should limit prolonged outdoor exertion during the late afternoon or early evening when ozone concentrations are highest.

Although public is not likely to be affected, people with lung disease, older adults and children are at a greater risk from exposure to ozone, whereas persons with heart and lung disease, older adults and children are at greater risk from the presence of particles in the air.

Additionally, a Hazardous Weather Outlook of a heat advisory has been issued for North and Central Georgia.

Very warm temperatures combined with increasing humidity will lead to heat index values between 100 and 105 today for much of central and parts of north Georgia. A Heat Advisory is in effect from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday.

Widely scattered thunderstorms are possible Monday afternoon, mainly south of a Columbus to Macon to Swainsboro line. If any storms develop, brief gusty winds, locally heavy rain, and cloud to ground lightning will be the primary threats.

Above normal temperatures will persist through at least mid week. The combination of persistent heat in the 90s coupled with higher humidity will make it feel very uncomfortable. Try to avoid overexposure to outside activities and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, the NWS said.

A few afternoon showers and thunderstorms will be possible each afternoon and evening, through Friday, but most areas will remain dry and very warm. By this weekend, there is the potential to see higher rain chances.

The forecast for the rest of the week shows:

Monday
Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Calm wind.

Monday night
Mostly clear, with a low around 73. Southeast wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 99. East wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Calm wind.

Wednesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind.

Wednesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 72.

Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 94.

Thursday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 71.

Friday
A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 93.

Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 71.

Saturday
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87.

Saturday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.

Sunday
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88.