Residents across Chattooga County and northwest Georgia can expect another stretch of typical July weather today, with plenty of sunshine, afternoon heat, and only a slight chance of a few pop-up showers or thunderstorms late in the day.

Today’s high will climb to around 91 degrees, with heat index values reaching the mid to upper 90s during the afternoon. While only about a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms is expected today, any storm that develops could produce brief heavy rainfall, frequent lightning, and gusty winds.

Rain chances will gradually increase through the remainder of the week as a weak frontal boundary approaches the Southeast. Thursday brings a 40 percent chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms, followed by a 50 percent chance on Friday.

The greatest opportunity for widespread rainfall arrives this weekend. Forecasters are calling for an 80 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms on Saturday, with numerous storms expected throughout the day. Rain chances remain elevated Sunday at 70 percent before tapering slightly to 60 percent on Monday.

While widespread severe weather is not anticipated, the National Weather Service says a few stronger storms could develop each afternoon or evening, producing wind gusts of 40 to 50 miles per hour.

The increase in clouds and rainfall should also provide some relief from the heat. High temperatures are expected to remain in the lower 90s through Saturday before dropping into the upper 80s by Sunday and the mid-80s by Monday.

Residents spending time outdoors should continue to stay hydrated, limit strenuous activity during the hottest part of the afternoon, and keep an eye on the sky for developing thunderstorms later in the day.