The National Weather Service forecasts partly sunny skies here in Cobb County on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, with a high near 86 degrees.

The National Weather Service has also issued a hazardous weather outlook for Cobb County and other parts of the region due to a Slight Risk (Level 2 of 3) of severe storms in central Georgia between 2 p.m. and 9 p.m. today.

What does the extended forecast have in store?

This forecast is centered on Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta.

Today

Partly sunny, with a high near 86. West wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. West wind around 5 mph.

Wednesday

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 5 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday

A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 a.m, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 8 a.m and 2 p.m, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Thursday Night

Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 8 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Friday

A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.

Friday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.

Saturday

A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.

Saturday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.

Sunday

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.

Sunday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.

Monday

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.

What was the climate like in the latest reporting period?

The NWS climate summary for metro Atlanta has now been updated with July 2023 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.”

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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.

Date	Max Temp	Min Temp	Average	Departure from norm	Precipitation
2023-07-01	96	73	84.5	4.4	0
2023-07-02	93	73	83	2.8	0.61
2023-07-03	89	72	80.5	0.2	0.01
2023-07-04	92	73	82.5	2.1	0
2023-07-05	88	75	81.5	1	0
2023-07-06	93	73	83	2.4	0
2023-07-07	92	74	83	2.4	T
2023-07-08	92	72	82	1.3	0
2023-07-09	91	71	81	0.2	0.19
2023-07-10	87	70	78.5	-2.3	0.73
2023-07-11	90	71	80.5	-0.4	0
2023-07-12	92	74	83	2	T
2023-07-13	92	74	83	2	0
2023-07-14	93	75	84	3	0
2023-07-15	93	77	85	3.9	0
2023-07-16	94	73	83.5	2.4	0
2023-07-17	91	71	81	-0.1	0
2023-07-18	93	73	83	1.8	T
2023-07-19	94	76	85	3.8	T
2023-07-20	96	74	85	3.8	T
2023-07-21	94	72	83	1.8	0.13
2023-07-22	87	71	79	-2.2	0.05
2023-07-23	92	72	82	0.8	0
2023-07-24	93	72	82.5	1.2	0
2023-07-25	95	71	83	1.7	T
2023-07-26	96	76	86	4.8	0
2023-07-27	97	75	86	4.8	0
2023-07-28	94	77	85.5	4.3	0.01
2023-07-29	98	77	87.5	6.3	0
2023-07-30	94	75	84.5	3.3	0
2023-07-31	97	74	85.5	4.3	0

[We usually publish the National Weather Service daily climate almanac for metro Atlanta. There are errors on the NWS website today. If they are resolved we’ll update this article]

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.”