The National Weather Service forecasts cloudy skies here in Cobb County on Thursday, May 18, 2023, with a high near 73 degrees.
The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for Cobb County and other parts of the region due to isolated shower and thunderstorm activity that will linger in the region.
What does the extended forecast have in store?
This forecast is centered on Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta.
Thursday
A chance of rain and thunderstorms before noon, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between noon and 5 p.m, then rain likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 5 p.m. Areas of fog before 10 a.m. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 73. East wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
Thursday Night
A 40 percent chance of rain, mainly before 11 p.m. Cloudy, with a low around 59. East wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Friday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. East wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. East wind around 5 mph.
Saturday
A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
Saturday Night
Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 p.m, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8 p.m and 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
Sunday
A 20 percent chance of showers after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 81.
Sunday Night
A 10 percent chance of showers before 8 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 61.
Monday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.
Monday Night
A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 80.
Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 59.
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 81.
What was the climate like in the latest reporting period?
The NWS climate summary for metro Atlanta has now been updated with November figures.
In an article entitled What is the Difference between Climate and Weather?, the National Ocean Service describes the difference as follows:
“Weather is what you see outside on any particular day. So, for example, it may be 75° degrees and sunny or it could be 20° degrees with heavy snow. That’s the weather.
“Climate is the average of that weather. For example, you can expect snow in the Northeast in January or for it to be hot and humid in the Southeast in July. This is climate. The climate record also includes extreme values such as record high temperatures or record amounts of rainfall. If you’ve ever heard your local weather person say “today we hit a record high for this day,” she is talking about climate records.
“So when we are talking about climate change, we are talking about changes in long-term averages of daily weather. In most places, weather can change from minute-to-minute, hour-to-hour, day-to-day, and season-to-season. Climate, however, is the average of weather over time and space.”
The climate report for the Atlanta area for the previous month shows how much departure from the average temperatures that month represents. The average temperature for a date is the average over a 30-year period.
| February 2023 Climate Averages | |||
| Climate Site | February Temp (°F) | Average Temp | Departure from normal |
| Athens | 55.2 | 47.9 | 7.3 |
| Atlanta | 57.1 | 48.5 | 8.6 |
| Columbus | 59.3 | 52.3 | 7.0 |
| Macon | 59.4 | 51.2 | 8.2 |
| Dekalb Peachtree Arpt | 54.3 | 46.1 | 8.2 |
| Fulton Co Arpt | 55.1 | 47.5 | 7.6 |
| Gainesville | 54.5 | 45.7 | 8.8 |
| Peachtree City | 55.7 | 48.7 | 7.0 |
| Rome | 53.5 | 46.3 | 7.2 |
| February 2023 Temperature Climate Statistics | ||||
| Climate Site | Maximum Temperature | Max T Date | Minimum Temperature | Min T Date |
| Athens | 81* | 2/22 | 28 | 2/4, 18 |
| Atlanta | 81* | 2/22 | 29 | 2/18 |
| Columbus | 84 | 2/22 | 31 | 2/18 |
| Macon | 85* | 2/22 | 30 | 2/4, 18 |
| Dekalb Peachtree Arpt | 80 | 2/22 | 26 | 2/4 |
| Fulton Co Arpt | 82 | 2/22 | 26 | 2/4 |
| Gainesville | 80 | 2/22 | 27 | 2/18 |
| Peachtree City | 81 | 2/22 | 27 | 2/18 |
| Rome | 83 | 2/22 | 26 | 2/4 |
*Indicates a daily record was set
| February 2023 Precipitation Climate Statistics | |||
| Climate Site | Total Precipitation | Average Precipitation | DFN (DepartureFrom Normal) |
| Athens | 3.12 | 4.36 | -1.24 |
| Atlanta | 2.22 | 4.55 | -2.33 |
| Columbus | 1.99 | 4.46 | -2.47 |
| Macon | 2.52 | 4.17 | -1.65 |
| Dekalb Peachtree Arpt | 3.15 | 4.47 | -1.32 |
| Fulton County Arpt | 3.40 | 4.34 | -0.94 |
| Gainesville | 3.87 | 4.65 | -0.78 |
| Peachtree City | 2.77 | 4.61 | -1.84 |
| Rome | 4.65 | 4.81 | -0.16 |
| February 2023 Precipitation Climate Statistics | ||||
| Climate Site | Maximum Daily Precip (in inches) | Max P Date | ||
| Athens | 1.25 | 2/11 | ||
| Atlanta | 0.86 | 2/2 | ||
| Columbus | 0.86 | 2/2 | ||
| Macon | 1.79 | 2/11 | ||
| Dekalb Peachtree Arpt | 0.88 | 2/17 | ||
| Fulton Co Arpt | 1.12 | 2/16 | ||
| Gainesville | 0.86 | 2/23 | ||
| Peachtree City | 0.93 | 2/11 | ||
| Rome | 2.11 | 2/16 |
| February 2023 Climate Records | |||
| Date | Type | Location | Records set over a 24 hour period |
| 2/23 | High T | Athens | A daily record high Temperature of 80° breaks the old record set in 2012. |
| 2/24 | High T | Athens | A daily record high Temperature of 80° breaks the old record set in 2012. |
| 2/22 | High T | Atlanta | A daily record high Temperature of 80° breaks the old record set in 2021. |
| 2/23 | High T | Atlanta | A daily record high Temperature of 81° breaks the old record set in 2018. |
| 2/24 | High T | Atlanta | A daily record high Temperature of 81° breaks the old record set in 2018. |
| 2/26 | High T | Macon | A daily record high Temperature of 83° breaks the old record set in 1944. |
| 2/27 | High T | Macon | A daily record high Temperature of 83° breaks the old record set in 1944. |
| February 2023 Climate Records | |||
| Date | Type | Location | Records set over a 24 hour period |
| 2/24 | Min T | Atlanta | A record high Minimum Temperature of 69° breaks the all time record.. |
| 2/23 | Min T | Atlanta | A record high Minimum Temperature of 67° breaks the all time record. |
| 2/24 | Min T | Columbus | A daily record high Minimum Temperature of 65° breaks the old record set in 2018. |
| 2/23 | Min T | Columbus | A record high Minimum Temperature of 68° breaks the all time record. |
| 2/25 | Min T | Macon | A daily record high Minimum Temperature of 66° breaks the old record set in 1981. |
For much more information on the climate in our area, visit the NWS Climate FAQ for the Atlanta area.
What does the National Weather Service do?
The National Weather Service (NWS) is a 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 warnings for the United States, its territories, adjacent waters and ocean areas, for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy.
“These services include Forecasts and Observations, Warnings, Impact-based Decision Support Services, and Education in an effort to build a Weather-Ready Nation. The ultimate goal is to have a society that is prepared for and responds to weather, water and climate events.”
