Air Quality Warning Issued, Storms Forecast for Parts of GA

ATLANTA, GA — An Orange Air Quality Warning is in effect in parts of Georgia on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service, making the air unhealthy for sensitive groups.

In addition, there could be isolated thunderstorms in central Georgia on Wednesday afternoon, the weather service said.

The warning from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Environmental Protection states that ozone concentrations may be highest in the late afternoon or early evening.

In addition to the counties in the Atlanta metropolitan area, the warning also applies to the counties of Cherokee, Paulding, Hall and Douglas.

Orange indicates an air quality index between 101 and 150, while an index above 150 is considered code red and has health impacts on the general population.

Air quality alerts are triggered by a number of factors, including the detection of fine particulate pollution – known as “PM 2.5” – which can irritate the lungs.

Air quality was moderate early Wednesday afternoon.

According to the government’s national monitoring platform AirNow, the groups at risk include people with lung diseases such as asthma, children and adolescents, older adults and people who regularly spend six or more hours outdoors a day.

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The weather service said the threat of storms forecast for central Georgia was minimal.

The storms could affect Bartow, Cherokee, Clarke, Paulding, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Forsyth, Gwinnett, Hall, Fulton, Paulding, Muscogee and several other counties.

Weather service experts expect storms to return to central Georgia Thursday, Friday and Sunday afternoons. The entire Peach State could see isolated storms from Sunday through the middle of next week.

As of Wednesday, around 12:45 p.m., the National Weather Service released the following detailed weather forecast for the Atlanta metropolitan area:

This afternoon: Mostly sunny, high temperature around 32 °C. Southeast wind around 8 km/h.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. East wind around 5 mph.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, high around 91 degrees. East wind about 5 mph.

Thursday night: Mostly clear, low around 71. East wind about 5 mph, decreasing.

Friday: Sunny, high around 95 degrees. Calm wind turning to the west at about 5 mph.

Friday night: Mostly clear, low around 73.

Saturday: Sunny and hot, with highs of around 98 degrees.

Saturday night: Mostly clear, low around 75.

Sunday: After 2 p.m. there is a 20 percent chance of rain showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, maximum temperature around 35 degrees.

Sunday night: Before 2 a.m. there is a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, low around 23 °C.

Monday: 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, highs around 90 degrees.

Monday night: 30% chance of rain showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, low temperature around 22°C.

Tuesday: 20% chance of rain showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, high temperature around 32°C.