FXUS62 KFFC 010800 AFDFFC Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 300 AM EST Thu Jan 1 2026 ...Morning Area Forecast Discussion... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 257 AM EST Thu Jan 1 2026 - The first day of 2026 will bring dry and mild conditions under abundant sunshine. - Rain will increase late Friday into Saturday with a few non- severe thunderstorms also possible. Rainfall totals are forecast to largely range from a half inch to an inch. - Temperatures remain above normal to well above normal into next week. && .SHORT TERM... (Today through Friday) Issued at 257 AM EST Thu Jan 1 2026 There will be no weather concerns across Georgia to start 2026 as abundant sunshine and dry weather will stick around for one more day. Temperatures today will warm further as surface high pressure migrates eastward across the Gulf, resulting in highs warming back several degrees above normal into the upper 50s to low 60s. Gradually increasing dewpoints will prevent any fire weather concerns today. Warmer conditions will carry over tonight as well with no freezing temperatures expected aside from an isolated spot or two in the mountains as widespread high clouds begin to increase ahead of our next system. Friday will be a day of changes. While we'll start the day dry, widespread cloud cover will herald increasing rain chances by late in the day. A shortwave aloft will be accompanied by a weak surface low progressing eastward across the Arklatex region by Friday evening. As a result, light rain showers will begin to increase across west Georgia by evening, though the bulk of the more persistent and heavier rainfall will hold off until later into Friday night. High temperatures will remain above normal, largely in the 60s. && .LONG TERM... (Friday night through Wednesday) Issued at 257 AM EST Thu Jan 1 2026 A weak pulse through the otherwise flat upper level flow will bring the next shot of rain to the CWA. As of this morning we're looking at anywhere from half an inch to an inch of rain as the system quickly moves through. Temperatures in the upper 60s and low 70s combined with afternoon dewpoints around 60 south of I-20 are enough to suggest they'll be some instability to work with. As a result a few afternoon thunderstorms will be possible. Nothing currently suggests that these storms may be capable of organizing into anything strong to severe; the CAPE and Shear values just aren't there. But given the warm moist environment there is always the outside chance that one or two storms could over achieve in this marginal environment so it's worth keeping an eye. After that, the forecast returns to the usual calm that we've been enjoying for what seems like months with highs in the upper 50s and lower 60s and overnight lows in the upper 30s and lower 40s. Which, as luck would have, is slightly above seasonal. && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1205 AM EST Thu Jan 1 2026 VFR conditions will persist with mostly clear skies giving way to increasing high cirrus clouds by this evening. Winds will remain W to SW at 5-10 kts. //ATL Confidence...06Z Update... High confidence. RW && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Athens 59 40 61 47 / 0 0 10 100 Atlanta 59 42 61 51 / 0 0 30 100 Blairsville 52 33 57 42 / 0 0 20 100 Cartersville 58 38 61 47 / 0 0 30 100 Columbus 62 37 64 53 / 0 0 20 90 Gainesville 57 41 59 48 / 0 0 20 100 Macon 63 37 65 50 / 0 0 10 90 Rome 62 40 62 50 / 0 0 40 100 Peachtree City 60 39 62 50 / 0 0 30 100 Vidalia 63 40 65 50 / 0 0 0 50 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ SHORT TERM...RW LONG TERM....Vaughn AVIATION...RW