Decatur, GA Weather

Key Messages

- Elevated fire danger conditions persist for central Georgia through Friday afternoon due to low relative humidity.

- Rain-free conditions and near-seasonal temperatures will remain for the next 7 days, with a slight cool-down Saturday through early next week.

Short Term

(This afternoon through Saturday) Issued at 153 PM EDT Fri Oct 23 2026

A high pressure regime over the region will keep dry conditions in place through the short term period, with rain chances expected to be near 0% this afternoon through the weekend. High temperatures this afternoon will be in the upper 60s in portions of far northeast Georgia and low to mid 70s elsewhere across the area. Strong mixing and subsidence under the high has contributed to quickly dropping dewpoints in the late morning and early afternoon. Hi-res guidance, CONSShort, and NBM 10th percentile were blended into the dewpoint forecast to capture this trend. With the resulting relative humidity values under 25% for a few hours this afternoon combined with dry finer fuels, a Fire Danger Statement is in effect for portions of central Georgia until 8 PM EDT this evening.

As the axis of strong upper level ridging moves east towards the Mississippi River Valley, the associated surface high will approach New England and a CAD wedge will develop along the lee side of the Appalachians and spread across north Georgia on Saturday. Low temperatures will start the morning in the mid to upper 40s across the area once again, while the cooler air in the wedge largely limits high temperatures to the upper 60s to low 70s. The slightly lower temperatures and increase of low-level Atlantic moisture in the easterly flow should keep fire danger criteria from being reached on Saturday afternoon.

Long Term

(Sunday morning through next Thursday) Issued at 153 PM EDT Fri Oct 23 2026

A quiet long-term forecast is in store with dominant surface high- pressure conditions keeping the sensible weather dry and cool through the weekend. At the mid-upper levels, our region is between a weak low transiting along the Carolina coast and an amplified ridge building in toward the ArkLaTex region. The primary effect of this will be a renewed development of the CAD pattern and a strengthening of the northeast winds over the area through early next week. As a result, some gusty winds will be possible through the weekend, peaking in the afternoon--particularly south of the I- 85 interchange around 15-20mph each day. Otherwise, a few more clouds may be around, but things will remain very dry with no chance of rain through the end of next week. Along with these dry conditions, we will continue to keep an eye on our RH values through the forecast period in case a Fire Danger Statement is warranted.

Temperatures will be near seasonal averages to slightly below for the weekend before a gradual warming trend begins as we move into early next week, with daytime highs rising into the mid to upper 70s range by mid-week. Additionally, models are in agreement beyond mid- week for the upper-level pattern to become more zonal, setting up the potential for a reintroduction of southwesterly flow over the region. The jury is still out, however, on whether this translates into any meaningful rainfall, as models are currently split on the extent of Gulf moisture influx as we transition into late next week.

Aviation

(18Z TAFS) Issued at 128 PM EDT Fri Oct 23 2026

VFR conditions are expected through the period with mostly clear skies. Winds will be NE at 7-10 kts this afternoon, diminishing to 4-7 kts after 02Z. NE winds will increase to 10-13 kts by 15Z on Saturday with occasional gusts of 18-23 kts in central GA including MCN/CSG.

//ATL Confidence...18Z Update... High confidence on all elements.

King