FXUS62 KFFC 201854 AFDFFC Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 254 PM EDT Fri Mar 20 2026 ...Afternoon Area Forecast Discussion... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 243 PM EDT Fri Mar 20 2026 - Temperatures will gradually increase each day this week, reaching 15-20 degrees above average Sun/Mon. - Low chance (< 20%) for rain in North GA on Saturday, otherwise, fair weather through early next week. && .SHORT TERM... (This afternoon through Saturday) Issued at 243 PM EDT Fri Mar 20 2026 Fair weather and warming temperatures will be the trend through the weekend for North and Central Georgia, thanks to high pressure situated across the northern Gulf. Current temperatures are in the 70s areawide, and daytime highs will be within a few degrees of what they are now. Tonight lows will be mild with values in the 50s and patchy fog cannot be ruled out near bodies of water. A weak mid- level disturbance will sweep through the TN Valley on Saturday, prompting an increase in cloud cover and perhaps a stray shower in far North Georgia (low chance -- < 20%). Though most are likely to see just an increase in cloud cover. Daytime temperatures will continue to rise with forecast highs by Saturday afternoon in the 80s areawide (70s in the mountains). && .LONG TERM... (Sunday morning through next Thursday) Issued at 243 PM EDT Fri Mar 20 2026 Surface high pressure centered over the Gulf this weekend will keep warm SW flow at the surface helping to warm things up. High temperatures expected in the 80s state wide with temps near 90 across east central GA Sun/Mon. If these temps materialize we could be seeing near daily records for late March. Morning low temps will also be a bit warm with lows in the 50s to lower 60s. Between the dry northwest mid-level flow, subsidence from the huge southwestern U.S. ridge, and the synoptic storm track remaining to the north, rain chances will remain low through the middle of next week. Temps will cool a bit Tue and Wed a dry cold front sweeps south through the state. For now only expecting increased cloud cover from this front and temps to dip back down into the 60s and 70 from the 80s Monday. By Wed of next week the GFS and ECMWF models are still showing two very different solutions. The GFS shows a very stout wave moving SE in the upper level NWLY flow and pushing into N GA by 06-12z Wed. The ECMWF builds in a ridge of high pressure behind the dry cold front and keeps things dry through Thu. Have decided to continue with 20% to 30% PoPs for now. Will definitely keep a close eye on this over the next few days. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 123 PM EDT Fri Mar 20 2026 VFR thru the period at all sites. High cirrus will move in after 03z. SW winds at 3 to 7kts this aftn will diminish after 00z and turn to the WSW/WNW by 14z Saturday at 7-10kts. Isolated low end gusts up to 18kts remain possible on Saturday. Latest satellite does indicate some haze out there and it's possible vsbys may be reduced at times. Though the lowest vsby obs that have been noted thus far are between 7-9sm. Thinking this will likely be the trend thru the aftn. //ATL Confidence...18Z Update... Low confidence on lower vsbys due to haze. High confidence on remaining elements. 07 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Athens 55 82 59 85 / 0 10 10 0 Atlanta 56 82 59 84 / 0 0 10 0 Blairsville 51 78 53 82 / 0 10 20 0 Cartersville 53 82 57 85 / 0 10 10 0 Columbus 51 83 55 84 / 0 0 0 0 Gainesville 57 81 60 84 / 0 10 10 0 Macon 51 83 57 85 / 0 0 0 0 Rome 55 85 59 87 / 0 10 10 0 Peachtree City 53 82 56 84 / 0 0 10 0 Vidalia 52 84 58 87 / 0 0 0 0 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ SHORT TERM...07 LONG TERM....01 AVIATION...07