Lightning, Hail Expected As Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued In GA

Weather officials have put parts of Georgia on alert for menacing storms and threatening hazards, including quarter-size hail and frequent lightning.

The National Weather Service on Wednesday added wind gusts up to 70 mph are also expected with the storms that may span portions of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

These storms could impact 11,279,238 people in these states, potentially affecting 199 hospitals and 2,860 schools across the region.

Forecasters predicted the isolated to scattered thunderstorms could become strong to severe.

The severe thunderstorm will expire at 9 p.m. Wednesday. It was issued for the following Georgia counties: Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dade, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Fannin, Fayette, Floyd, Forsyth, Franklin, Fulton, Gilmer, Gordon, Gwinnett, Habersham, Hall, Haralson, Heard, Henry, Jackson, Lumpkin, Meriwether, Murray, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Rabun, Rockdale, Spalding, Stephens, Towns, Troup, Union, Walker, Walton, White and Whitfield counties.

Additionally, heat indices up to 107 degrees have forced a heat advisory in Woodstock, Blue Ridge, Jasper, Douglasville, Trenton, Carrollton, Marietta, Fort Oglethorpe, East Point, LaFayette, Atlanta, Bremen, Ellijay and Dallas.

Though this advisory will expire at 8 p.m. Wednesday, a second advisory for these areas will go into effect from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday.

As Independence Day approaches Saturday, forecasters warned of sweltering heat and indices in the 100s daily.

More storms are also possible from Thursday-Saturday in the afternoons, potentially stretching into early next week, according to the NWS.

Along with dangerous storms and smoldering heat, Atlantans may face unhealthy air conditions. A code orange air quality alert issued by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources will take effect Thursday.

Air quality alerts are triggered by a number of factors, including the detection of fine-particle pollution — known as “PM 2.5” — which can irritate the lungs.

Orange denotes an air quality index of between 101-150 while an index of above 150 is considered code red, with health effects spreading to members of the general public.

Code orange means that the air is unhealthy for sensitive groups including children, seniors, people with asthma and people with lung/heart diseases. Those groups may want to minimize time spent outdoors, according to the NWS.

Here is the National Weather Service's Wednesday afternoon forecast for metro Atlanta:

This Afternoon: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 103. Southeast wind around 5 mph.

Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8 p.m. Mostly clear, with a low around 77. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Thursday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Heat index values as high as 103. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 78. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Friday Night: A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m. Mostly clear, with a low around 78.

Independence Day: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Sunny and hot, with a high near 98.

Saturday Night: A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 77.

Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Sunny, with a high near 96.

Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76.

Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.

Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.

Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.