361
FXUS62 KFFC 280258
AFDFFC

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
1058 PM EDT Fri Mar 27 2026

...Evening Update For Fire Weather Discussion...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 1057 PM EDT Fri Mar 27 2026

- Near record high temperatures are expected at all four climate
      sites (Atlanta, Athens, Columbus and Macon) today.

    - A Red Flag Warning is now in effect for Saturday given the
      dangerous fire weather conditions that are expected.

    - Dry weather and unseasonable warmth to continue through Tuesday
      with any rain potential holding off until late next week.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(This afternoon through Saturday)
Issued at 215 PM EDT Fri Mar 27 2026

Summer like conditions will continue today as highs soar into the
mid to upper 80s across the CWA. Winds will gradually increase
through the day as they turn to be more westerly. Winds at 10-15 mph
with gusts up to 25mph are expected and will remain elevated during
the overnight period.

The main concern in the forecast will come overnight and into
Saturday. A dry cold front is set to sweep through much of the
south, bringing with it some extremely dry air. Relative humidities
will fall below 20% for much of the CWA and NW winds could gust as
high as 25 mph. This will present some dangerous fire weather
conditions to an area already facing historic drought. Please
continue to monitor the Fire Weather Forecast for updates and any
products that are issued. See additional information in the Fire
Weather discussion section below.

Temperatures are expected to drop overnight Friday into Saturday.
Lows will be in the upper 40s and low 50s with highs on Saturday
back in the 60s, which is a few degrees below what we`d be expecting
for this time of year. Critical Fire Weather conditions are expected
to ease by Sunday though RH recovery during the overnight period
Saturday into Sunday will struggle to reach 50%.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Sunday morning through next Thursday)
Issued at 215 PM EDT Fri Mar 27 2026

A shifting ridge of high pressure will center over the Southeast
by late weekend, and then off over the south Atlantic by early
next week. As a result, a strong warming trend will return
temperatures back into the 80s by Tuesday. The persistent dry
airmass and strong subsidence will keep conditions rain-free.

Models continue to show a transition to a more active pattern by
Wednesday, with the ridge sliding east as a trough aligns over the
central US. Flow around the periphery of the ridge will draw Gulf
moisture into the region, providing sufficient moisture to
generate daily shower and thunderstorm chances. Expect the warm
temperatures to remain with highs in the 80s and lows in the 60s.

&&

.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 723 PM EDT Fri Mar 27 2026

VFR conditions will prevail through the period. Cigs 5-8 kft
associated with a dry cold frontal passage will gradually diminish
from N to S after 06Z with mostly clear skies thereafter. Gusty NW
winds 13-17 kts with gusts 20-25 kts will prevail before switching
NE by 12-15Z bringing speeds 8-12 kts with fewer gusts.

//ATL Confidence...00Z Update...
High confidence.

RW

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 1057 PM EDT Fri Mar 27 2026

A RED FLAG WARNING will go into effect for all of the Fire Zones in
our CWA beginning at 0800 Saturday. A strong cold front will
sweep through the area during the overnight hours bringing some
virga to portions of northern Georgia. Given the substantial dry
layer at the surface, any rain that falls will likely evaporate
before it can reach the ground.

Dewpoints will fall rapidly as the front moves in as extremely dry
air is dragged down from the northern great plains. Dewpoints across
northern Georgia will fall into the 20s by 0800 and overtake the
rest of the Fire Zones by 1200. Minimum RH values during the
afternoon are expected to crash into the low teens, and a few obs in
the single digits may be possible.

A tight pressure gradient will push winds into the critical
threshold as well. Latest obs are already showing a turn to the NW
with the occasional gust to 20+ mph. Winds will continue to shift NW
through the remainder of the afternoon and evening. By tomorrow
afternoon, wind gusts of 35+ mph will increase in frequency
especially across the highest elevation of northern Georgia.

To make the whole situation that much more complicated, widespread
drought conditions continue to plague much of the southeast. Thousand
hour fuels, made more prevalent from the lingering storm damage
brought on by Hurricane Helene, continue to dry out as severe
drought (D2) grips the area. Any fire that does start in this
environment could quickly grow out of control. Please exercise
extreme caution and follow the guidance in place from Georgia
Forestry.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Athens          50  65  39  68 /  10   0   0   0
Atlanta         47  68  42  69 /  10   0   0   0
Blairsville     35  65  35  62 /  10   0   0   0
Cartersville    40  69  42  70 /  10   0   0   0
Columbus        51  72  44  73 /   0   0   0   0
Gainesville     46  66  39  67 /  10   0   0   0
Macon           56  70  43  72 /   0   0   0   0
Rome            42  68  41  72 /  10   0   0   0
Peachtree City  46  69  40  70 /  10   0   0   0
Vidalia         58  69  45  73 /   0   0   0   0

&&

.FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Red Flag Warning from 8 AM to 8 PM EDT Saturday for GAZ001>009-
011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086-089>098-
102>113.

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...Vaughn
LONG TERM....31
AVIATION...RW