Very dry air will elevate wildfire danger this afternoon across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia, with relative humidity expected to drop below critical levels (near or under 25%) while vegetation and fine fuels continue drying. Even though winds won’t be extreme, the combination of low humidity and dry fuels can allow any spark to spread quickly—so it’s a good day to avoid outdoor burning and be extra careful with anything that produces heat or embers.

After a chilly start this morning near or below freezing in spots, temperatures will rebound under mostly sunny skies, topping out in the upper 50s to near 60 across much of Northwest Georgia. Clouds increase tonight, keeping overnight lows milder than the past few nights, generally in the mid to upper 30s across the area.

Rain chances return Wednesday as weather disturbances pass through, but coverage will be spotty and amounts light. Northwest Georgia may see periods of light rain during the day Wednesday, with temperatures remaining above freezing—so it should be a cold rain for most locations.

Late Wednesday night into early Thursday, colder air pushes in and a few snowflakes or flurries could appear in the highest elevations of far Northwest Georgia, but moisture is limited and the atmosphere dries quickly overnight. Any accumulation is expected to stay minor and mainly on elevated surfaces, with meaningful road or sidewalk impacts unlikely.

A sharp cooldown arrives Thursday and lasts through the end of the week, with gusty northwest winds making it feel even colder. By Thursday morning, wind chills could dip into the teens in the colder parts of Northwest Georgia, making it one of the coldest mornings so far this winter even if advisory criteria isn’t reached.

Looking toward the weekend, a system may pass through but current guidance favors limited moisture and poor timing with the coldest air, keeping the risk for significant winter weather low. The more likely hazard heading into early next week is another round of potentially dangerous cold, with temperatures possibly nearing cold weather advisory levels by Monday morning.