Chattooga County and the rest of Northwest Georgia are under elevated fire danger today due to very low humidity and dry air combining with northwest winds this afternoon and evening, while a separate storm system later this week may bring rain and an increasing risk of impactful wintry weather over the weekend.

Forecasters expect relative humidity to fall to 25 percent or less for four or more hours today, with northwest winds around 8 to 12 miles per hour. With dry fuels in place, those conditions can allow fires to start more easily and spread faster in fields, brush, and wooded areas. A Fire Danger Statement remains in effect through 7 PM Tuesday, and residents are urged to avoid outdoor burning and be cautious with anything that can create sparks.

Fire concerns may ease some on Wednesday as winds shift and moisture gradually returns, making conditions more borderline than today. Temperatures will also rebound closer to normal, but officials stress that fire safety remains important until humidity and fuel moisture improve more significantly.

Rain chances return Wednesday night into Thursday as a front moves into North Georgia, with only a small chance of a brief mix in the highest elevations near daybreak Thursday. Attention then turns to the weekend, when a stronger storm system could bring widespread precipitation and the potential for significant winter weather, including ice in parts of North Georgia; where the cold air sets up will determine who sees rain versus freezing rain or other wintry precipitation, so the forecast should be monitored closely through the week.