Residents across Chattooga County and the broader Northwest Georgia region are being urged to use extreme caution this weekend as a Fire Weather Watch goes into effect Saturday due to dangerous conditions.

The National Weather Service in Peachtree City has issued the watch from 8 AM through 11 PM Saturday, citing a combination of very low humidity and strong, gusty winds that could rapidly fuel wildfire activity.

In Chattooga County and surrounding higher elevations of Northwest Georgia, winds are expected to shift from the north to northeast at 10 to 15 miles per hour, with gusts reaching 30 mph, and potentially as high as 40 mph along ridgelines and mountain peaks. At the same time, relative humidity levels are forecast to drop into the teens and low 20s, creating extremely dry conditions.

Afternoon temperatures are expected to climb into the mid to upper 60s, adding to the fire risk. Officials warn that under these conditions, any fire could spread quickly and become difficult to control.

Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged across the region, including areas within the Chattahoochee National Forest, which covers parts of Northwest Georgia. Residents are advised to check with local burn permitting authorities before attempting any outdoor burning and to remain alert for potential upgrades to a Red Flag Warning.

Looking ahead, dry and unusually warm weather is expected to continue into early next week, with little to no rain in the forecast until later in the week — prolonging the elevated fire danger.