Residents across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia are experiencing an early taste of spring as temperatures climb well above normal for early February. Forecasters say highs will run 10 to 15 degrees above average for the next few days before gradually cooling back toward seasonal levels later this week.

Warm, southerly winds are driving today’s highs into the 60s and near 70 degrees, with Tuesday expected to be the warmest day of the week, topping out in the low to mid-70s across much of the region. Overnight lows will also stay mild, settling into the 40s due to increasing cloud cover.

While conditions will remain dry through Tuesday, rain chances return by mid-week, especially across Northwest Georgia, as a weak front moves into the area on Wednesday. Rainfall amounts mid-week are expected to be light, generally less than a quarter inch.

Another round of moisture is forecast to arrive Friday and continue into the weekend, bringing higher rain chances and the potential for more meaningful rainfall totals. At this time, forecasters indicate the risk for severe weather remains low, though conditions will continue to be monitored as the system approaches.

Overall, the warmer-than-normal pattern is expected to persist through at least Thursday, with unsettled weather and periodic rain chances carrying into the weekend.