The dangerous heat that’s been building across Northwest Georgia will continue today and through the Independence Day holiday, with a Heat Advisory remaining in effect until 8 p.m. Saturday. An Excessive Heat Warning also continues for parts of northwest Georgia.

Today will be mostly sunny and hot with a high near 98 degrees. Heat index values are expected to climb as high as 106 degrees during the afternoon. There is a 30 percent chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., but many areas will remain dry. Tonight will be partly cloudy with a low around 75 degrees and a slight chance of an evening thunderstorm.

For Independence Day on Saturday, expect another sunny and very hot day with a high near 97 degrees. Only a slight 20 percent chance of an afternoon thunderstorm is expected, mainly near the Alabama state line. Most Fourth of July celebrations should remain dry, but the heat will be the biggest concern.

Forecasters say the heat will become dangerous by mid-morning, with “feels like” temperatures climbing into the 90s before 10 a.m. and remaining there until late in the evening. Anyone spending time outdoors for parades, cookouts, fireworks, or other holiday activities should drink plenty of water, take frequent breaks in the shade or air conditioning, wear light-colored clothing, and check on children, older adults, and pets.

Beginning Sunday, the weather pattern will gradually become more typical for July as moisture returns from the Gulf of Mexico. Afternoon showers and thunderstorms will become more common through the middle of next week, with rain chances increasing to 40 to 50 percent each day. High temperatures will ease back into the lower to middle 90s, although the added humidity will continue to push heat index values above 100 degrees.