
As cooler weather approaches and more people head outdoors, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources is reminding Northwest Georgia residents that fall is also an especially active feeding period for black bears.

As cooler weather approaches and more people head outdoors, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources is reminding Northwest Georgia residents that fall is also an especially active feeding period for black bears.

With temperatures still reaching the 90s in the middle of September, plenty of people around Chattooga County may be asking the same question: When is it finally going to feel like fall?
The short answer is — probably not just yet.
The forecast keeps afternoon temperatures around 90 degrees or higher through much of this week, and there is not yet a strong indication of a sustained cool-down.
That doesn’t mean a cold front couldn’t bring a couple of cooler mornings along the way. September in Northwest Georgia can quickly swing between summer-like heat and brief hints of fall.

Long before manufacturing became a major part of Chattooga County’s economy, people looked to the mountains and ridges surrounding the county for another source of economic development — minerals buried beneath the ground.

Photo Credit: Scott Harding
A Jeep driver was injured Tuesday afternoon in a head-on collision with a tractor-trailer on Georgia Highway 48 near the foot of Lookout Mountain outside Menlo.
The crash occurred around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday as the tractor-trailer was traveling east toward Menlo and the Jeep Wrangler was traveling west toward Alabama from the Shinbone area.
According to information provided to WZQZ News by the Georgia State Patrol, the driver of the Jeep lost control of the vehicle, crossed into the lane of the oncoming tractor-trailer and was struck head-on.
The Jeep driver was conscious following the collision and was transported by Atrium Health Floyd EMS for medical treatment.
The Georgia State Patrol told WZQZ News that the driver is expected to recover.
The accident was investigated by the Georgia State Patrol. The official crash report remained incomplete Tuesday evening, and additional details were not immediately available.
WZQZ News will provide additional information if it becomes available.

Northwest Georgia residents can expect a stretch of cooler-than-normal temperatures and daily opportunities for showers and thunderstorms through the upcoming weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Thursday, May 28, 2026:

Chattooga County and the rest of northwest Georgia are facing several more days of warm, dry weather, with fire danger concerns expected to continue through the end of the workweek.

Registration officially opens today, Wednesday, April 15, for the beloved Camp Hamby Day Camp in Summerville, a long-standing summer tradition that has impacted generations of families across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia.

Chattooga County and much of Northwest Georgia are waking up to a mild and slightly damp start this Tuesday, with brief sprinkles and patchy fog possible through the morning hours—especially in low-lying areas and near rivers and creeks. Little to no accumulation is expected, but reduced visibility could impact early travel.

Residents across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia can expect mild and dry conditions through midweek, but officials are warning of an increased fire danger Tuesday afternoon into the evening.
A weak wedge of cooler air is settling into the region, bringing partly cloudy skies, gusty northeast winds, and seasonable temperatures in the mid to upper 60s. Behind a recent cold front, much drier air has moved in, dropping humidity levels into the 20–30% range.
Forecasters say areas north of I-20, including Northwest Georgia, could see relative humidity fall below 25% for several hours Tuesday. Combined with dry vegetation and breezy conditions, this has prompted a high fire danger alert for the region.
Conditions remain calm and dry into Wednesday, with little to no chance of rain. However, a warming trend begins later in the week, with temperatures climbing into the upper 70s and low 80s by Thursday.
A weak cold front could bring a slight chance of scattered showers to far north Georgia by Friday, but overall, quiet and seasonable weather is expected heading into the weekend.
Officials urge residents to avoid outdoor burning during peak fire danger periods and to use caution with anything that could spark a fire.