Keep the umbrella handy today as showers and thunderstorms are expected to become more widespread across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia this afternoon.

Patchy fog is possible through mid-morning. Showers and storms become more numerous during the afternoon, with the chance of rain at 60 percent. Today’s high will be around 86 degrees, with light winds becoming southwest around 5 mph.

While the overall severe-weather threat is low, some thunderstorms could produce gusty winds, frequent lightning and locally heavy rainfall. The National Weather Service says the atmosphere remains exceptionally moist, meaning repeated thunderstorms could produce very heavy rain over the same locations.

Localized flash flooding will be a concern, particularly in areas that received heavy rainfall Friday. Isolated rainfall amounts of 3 to 4 inches could occur in only an hour or two beneath the strongest storms. Saturated ground could also make it easier for trees to come down, even with winds below severe-thunderstorm levels.

Storm chances decrease quickly this evening, with only a 30 percent chance before about 8 PM. Tonight will be partly cloudy with a low around 69.

A major change arrives Sunday. Mostly sunny skies return with a high near 91, and the hotter, drier pattern continues into next week.

Monday is expected to be the hottest day of the period with sunshine and a high around 94 degrees. Highs remain in the lower 90s Tuesday through Friday, with mostly sunny to sunny skies and very little chance of rain.