Residents across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia are waking up to a soggy and stormy Easter Sunday as a line of showers and thunderstorms pushes through the region from early morning into the afternoon hours.

Forecasters say the system is being driven by a cold front moving in from the northwest, bringing periods of heavy rain, frequent lightning, and the possibility of a few stronger storms. While widespread severe weather is not expected, some storms could still pack a punch with wind gusts up to 40 miles per hour and small hail.

Rainfall totals are expected to range between a quarter and three-quarters of an inch across much of Northwest Georgia, with isolated areas possibly seeing over an inch where storms are heaviest.

As the cold front moves through Chattooga County and surrounding areas by early to mid-afternoon, conditions will begin to improve. Behind the front, a cooler and drier air mass will settle in, creating a noticeable temperature drop across the region. Highs in Northwest Georgia may struggle to climb out of the 60s today, especially compared to warmer areas further south and east.

Looking ahead to Monday, residents can expect a much quieter weather pattern. Breezy northwest winds will usher in cooler temperatures, with morning lows dipping into the low to mid-40s locally. Sunshine returns by the afternoon, with highs reaching the upper 60s to low 70s.

The extended forecast shows generally dry conditions continuing through much of the week, with gradually warming temperatures. Highs are expected to climb back into the 70s by midweek and could approach the low to mid-80s by next weekend as high pressure builds over the eastern United States.

Despite the recent rainfall, long-term outlooks indicate that drought conditions may persist across parts of the region.