A Heat Advisory has been issued until 8:00 Saturday night for parts of north and central Georgia along and south and west of a line from Toccoa-to-Gainesville-to-Dalton.
“Heat index values are forecast to reach the low- to mid-100s across the majority of the forecast area for each afternoon through the weekend,” a National Weather Service (NWS) advisory says.
The affected area includes Athens where the Georgia Bulldogs are scheduled to play Tennessee State at 3:00 Saturday afternoon when the temperature there is expected to be around 98 with a heat index of about 105 making it the hottest home game ever played by the Bulldogs. That has forecasters and medical experts worried about the impact the heat will have not only on the players but especially the fans most of whom will be sitting in direct sunlight, packed shoulder-to-shoulder with one another.
They say they can’t emphasize enough about drinking plenty of water prior to the game and staying hydrated throughout it. And take frequent breaks. Leave your seat occasionally and seek a shady spot for a time.
The 7-day Gainesville area NWS forecast:
This Afternoon
Sunny, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 100. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 74. Calm wind.
Saturday
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 5pm. Sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Heat index values as high as 103. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
Saturday Night
A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Sunny, with a high near 95. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, then a chance of showers between 11pm and 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Labor Day
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 84.
Monday Night
A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 67.
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 90.
Wednesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 68.
Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 92.