Widespread rain, cool temperatures forecast for North Georgia this week

ATLANTA, Georgia — Widespread rain is expected to arrive late Sunday, leading to a cool, wet, and breezy workweek for North Georgia. Meteorologists warn of gusty winds and significantly lower temperatures starting Monday.

According to FOX 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Alex Forbes, rain chances will steadily increase throughout Monday, with gusts of wind hitting 25 to 30 mph, particularly near the South Carolina state line. He noted, "Some of this rain could be heavy at times, especially south of I-20, but we’re not expecting widespread thunderstorms."

The steady rain will begin overnight, making it "fantastic sleeping weather, but horrible morning commute and bus stop weather," Forbes added. By Tuesday, the downpour is expected to taper off to lighter, scattered showers, with cloudy skies lingering through midweek. Another wave of rain is anticipated on Wednesday.

The current weather pattern will bring cool, damp, and breezy conditions typical for this time of year. Highs from Monday through Thursday are expected to be 10 to 15 degrees below average, reaching about 60 degrees in Atlanta and even cooler in the mountains.

"Most of us will see between one and two inches of rain across north and central Georgia," said Forbes. "A few isolated spots could get closer to three inches, but that would be rare." The damper weather is welcomed as parts of south metro Atlanta are currently under an extreme drought, affecting about 10% of the state.

As the midweek system departs, skies should clear up heading into the weekend. Forbes noted that by Halloween, temperatures might be around 60 degrees, providing a cool environment for trick-or-treaters.

With gusty conditions forecast throughout, residents are advised to prepare for potentially hazardous driving conditions, especially in exposed areas.