Residents across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia can expect a week of temperature swings, with conditions bouncing from near-normal to well above normal before cooling off again this weekend.

Cloud cover and easterly winds are helping keep temperatures closer to seasonal levels today, with highs mainly in the mid 60s. Any shower activity looks very limited, and most areas are expected to stay dry.

The bigger warm-up arrives Friday, when southwest winds are expected to push afternoon temperatures into the mid to upper 80s across parts of the region. Even with the warmer air and a slight increase in moisture, rain chances remain extremely low.

A weak cold front is forecast to move in late Friday into early Saturday. While far north Georgia could see a small 10 to 20 percent chance of rain, most of Northwest Georgia is expected to stay dry. Behind the front, cooler air and breezy northwest winds will settle in for Saturday, with highs dropping back into the 60s. Overnight lows by Sunday morning are expected to fall into the low to mid 40s, followed by another cool day Sunday with highs in the mid to upper 60s.

The warming trend then returns early next week. Highs should rebound into the mid to upper 70s by Monday, with 80s likely returning Tuesday and Wednesday as high pressure builds back over the Southeast.

With little to no rainfall expected over the next seven days, dry ground conditions are expected to worsen. Fire weather conditions will need close monitoring, especially over the weekend as dry air and breezy winds move into the area.