Chattooga County and the rest of Northwest Georgia are in for an unusually warm stretch through Christmas and into the weekend, with afternoon temperatures running well above normal and flirting with record to near-record levels.

Forecasters say a large ridge of high pressure aloft is driving the warmth, pushing an anomalously mild air mass into North Georgia. That means spring-like highs in the 70s are expected at times across the region, with mild nights staying in the 50s.

With warmer air and light winds overnight, residents should also watch for patchy fog, especially late tonight into Christmas morning and again at times over the next couple of nights—something that can reduce visibility quickly on area roadways.

Weekend Rain Timeline

• Friday into Saturday: Parts of North Georgia could see spotty, light rain showers, mainly isolated to scattered, with many locations staying mostly dry much of the time.

• Sunday afternoon through early Monday morning: The better chance for widespread rainfall arrives as a stronger system and cold front approach. Rain coverage should increase from west to east across Northwest Georgia.

Next Week: Big Temperature Drop

Behind that cold front, a noticeable cool-down is expected early next week. Highs could fall dramatically compared to the weekend warmth, with much cooler air settling in Monday into Tuesday. Breezy conditions are also possible, and with drier air moving in, elevated fire weather concerns could return—especially if winds pick up and humidity drops.

Residents should enjoy the warm holiday stretch, but keep the umbrella handy for late weekend travel and be ready for a more winter-like feel heading into next week.