Severe weather warning for Georgia: Probability of isolated storms increases on Monday, September 23
The National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather forecast for Cobb County and other parts of north and central Georgia for Sunday, September 22.
The chance of widespread severe weather on Sunday is low across most of the region, but there is a chance of isolated thunderstorms in far northern Georgia. The chance of larger, isolated storms increases starting Monday, September 23.
In this article you will learn:
- What is in today’s warning from the National Weather Service
- Which districts are included in the warning?
- What is meant by the terms “isolated” and “scattered”?
- About the National Weather Service and its mission
What does the statement say?
The statement contains the following details:
This hazardous weather forecast applies to parts of northern and central Georgia.
.DAY ONE…Today and tonight…
The probability of widespread storms is low.
Isolated thunderstorms are possible in far northern Georgia.
afternoon and evening.
.DAYS TWO TO SEVEN…Monday to Saturday…
The probability of widespread storms is low.
Isolated thunderstorms are possible in parts of the north.
and Central Georgia from Monday to Saturday. In addition
Heavy rain is possible on Friday and Saturday.
Which districts are affected?
The following counties are included in the hazardous weather forecast:
Baldwin, Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Bibb, Bleckley, Butts, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattahoochee, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Crawford, Crisp, Dade, Dawson, DeKalb, Dodge, Dooly, Douglas, Emanuel, Fannin, Fayette, Floyd, Forsyth, Gilmer, Glascock, Gordon, Greene, Gwinnett, Hall, Hancock, Haralson, Harris, Heard, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Jones, Lamar, Laurens, Lumpkin, Macon, Madison, Marion, Meriwether, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Murray, Muscogee, Newton, North Fulton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Paulding, Peach, Pickens, Pike, Polk, Pulaski, Putnam, Rockdale, Schley, South Fulton, Spalding, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taliaferro, Taylor, Telfair, Toombs, Towns, Treutlen, Troop, Twiggs, Union, Upson, Walker, Walton, Warren, Washington, Webster, Wheeler, White, Whitfield, Wilcox, Wilkes, Wilkinson
What is meant by “isolated” and “scattered”?
The NWS defines “isolated” as follows:
A National Weather Service convective precipitation descriptor for a 10 percent chance of measurable precipitation (0.01 inches). “Isolated” is used synonymously with “little.”
“Scattered” has the following definition:
When describing precipitation (e.g. “scattered showers”) – area coverage by convective weather affecting 30 to 50 percent of a forecast zone(s).
Isolated thunderstorms and scattered thunderstorms are two terms used to describe different distributions of thunderstorm activity within a given area. The main difference lies in the extent of coverage and spatial distribution of the thunderstorms:
- Isolated thunderstorms:
- Isolated thunderstorms are relatively rare events that occur sporadically and are generally confined to a limited area.
- A characteristic of these thunderstorms is that they often occur rarely and far apart, with large gaps between the individual thunderstorm cells.
- Typically, isolated thunderstorms cover less than 20% of the forecast area.
- Although these storms occur in isolation, they can be severe and bring heavy rain, lightning, gusty winds, and possibly hail.
- Isolated thunderstorms:
- Scattered thunderstorms are more widespread than isolated thunderstorms and cover a larger portion of the forecast area.
- In an isolated thunderstorm scenario, numerous individual thunderstorms develop, but they are not continuous or widespread enough to be classified as a “line” or “cluster” of thunderstorms.
- Isolated thunderstorms generally cover 30–50% of the forecast area.
- Although isolated thunderstorms are more widespread, they still leave significant gaps between storm cells, and not everyone in the forecast area will necessarily experience a thunderstorm.
In summary, isolated thunderstorms are less frequent and localized, covering a smaller area with significant spacing between storms. Scattered thunderstorms, on the other hand, are more widespread and cover a larger area with numerous individual storms occurring more or less randomly across the forecast area.
About the National Weather Service
The National Weather Service (NWS) is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The NWS describes its role as follows:
“The National Weather Service (NWS) provides weather, water, and climate forecasts and alerts for the United States, its territories, and adjacent waters and marine areas, to protect life and property and to strengthen the national economy.
“These services include forecasts and observations, warnings, impact-based decision support services and education in an effort to build a weather-resilient nation. The ultimate goal is a society that is prepared for and responsive to weather, water and climate events.”
>>> Read all of the Cobb County Courier’s climate and weather coverage at this link.
