The stretch of dry weather that has dominated Northwest Georgia during recent days is nearing its end as moisture begins flowing back into the region and afternoon thunderstorm chances make a comeback.

Saturday is expected to remain rain-free across Chattooga County and surrounding areas, with plenty of sunshine and temperatures climbing well into the 80s. While conditions will remain warm, the air will gradually become more humid as winds shift from the south and transport Gulf moisture back into Georgia.

Forecasters say the first noticeable opportunity for rainfall will arrive Sunday afternoon when scattered showers and thunderstorms begin developing across portions of North Georgia. Those rain chances will mark the beginning of a more typical June weather pattern that is expected to persist through much of next week.

The recent dry spell has been supported by high pressure and upper-level ridging across the Southeast. That weather pattern is now weakening and shifting eastward into the Atlantic, opening the door for a series of weather disturbances to pass north of Georgia. While none of these systems are expected to produce widespread severe weather, they will provide enough atmospheric support for daily rounds of showers and thunderstorms.

From Monday through Thursday, the forecast calls for scattered to numerous afternoon and evening storms fueled primarily by daytime heating and increasing humidity. This is a common summertime setup across Georgia, where sunshine during the morning hours gives way to building clouds and developing thunderstorms later in the day.

Despite the return of rain chances, forecasters are not anticipating a significant severe weather threat. A strong upper-level ridge centered near the Gulf Coast should help limit instability across the region. However, any thunderstorm can still produce dangerous lightning, brief heavy downpours, gusty winds, and localized flooding in areas that receive repeated rounds of rainfall.

Temperatures throughout the upcoming week will remain close to seasonal averages, with afternoon highs generally reaching the mid to upper 80s and overnight lows settling into the upper 60s and lower 70s. The bigger change will be the return of higher humidity levels, creating noticeably muggy conditions compared to the more comfortable air experienced during the past several days.

Anyone with outdoor plans next week should keep an eye on the sky during the afternoon and evening hours, as scattered thunderstorms are expected to become a regular part of the forecast once again across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia.