8:21 P.M. SATURDAY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE (NWS) UPDATE – “We continue to monitor chances for severe weather across the area after midnight tonight. As of (7:00 P.M.), we’ve got sufficient wind shear to support rotating storms, but the wedge inversion would prevent storms from being surface based.
“Huge caveat: we are expecting the cool, stable wedge airmass to begin to erode as the storm system approaches from the west tonight, but questions remain regarding how far northward the warmer, more unstable airmass makes it. We need that warm, moist air to support strong to severe thunderstorms. We’ll keep you updated tonight as the forecast changes!”
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Overnight updates can be found at (1) Facebook)
EARLIER STORY. POSTED 10:15 A.M. SATURDAY: The National Weather Service (NWS) said Saturday morning the threat of stormy weather across Georgia this weekend is increasing.
The agency posted this update at 9:00:
“The potential for strong to severe storms tonight into early tomorrow (Sunday) morning is increasing. What changed? The system driving the severe weather threat is very strong, and an influx of strong winds aloft and warm, moist air will somewhat erode the pesky wedge (whose southernmost border is outlined in blue on the accompanying graphic) of cold, stable air currently in place across north Georgia.
“Scattered thunderstorms will be possible across much of the area late this (Saturday) afternoon into the early morning hours (Sunday). A line of strong-to-severe thunderstorms is expected to move into northern and western Georgia early tomorrow (Sunday). Potential impacts: Damaging wind gusts and a few tornadoes.”