Due to expected scattered thunderstorms across the region, the National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather outlook for Cobb County and other parts of north and central Georgia for Monday, July 15.

In this article, you will learn:

1. What is in today’s National Weather Service alert
2. What counties are included in the alert
3. What is meant by the terms “isolated” and “scattered”
4. About the National Weather Service and what it does

What is in the statement?

The statement gives the following details:

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for North and Central Georgia.

.DAY ONE…Today and Tonight…

Scattered showers and thunderstorms can be expected this afternoon,

then diminishing this evening. The main threat will be locally

heavy rainfall.

Very warm and humid conditions will result in peak heat index

values ranging from 98 to 105 degrees across much of the area,

with a few locations exceeding 105 degrees for a few hours this

afternoon, mainly south and east of Athens to Macon to Columbus.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…Tuesday through Sunday…

Scattered to numerous afternoon and evening thunderstorms can be

expected Tuesday through Friday. Severe weather is not expected

at this time but heavy rain could elevate the localized flash

flood threat.

Very warm and humid conditions will persist through at least

Wednesday, with a good portion of the area experiencing afternoon

heat indices in the 100 to 108 degree range.

What counties are affected?

The following counties are included in the hazardous weather outlook:

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, Troup, 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 inch). Isolated is used interchangeably with few.

“Scattered” has the following definition:

When used to describe precipitation (for example: “scattered showers”) – Area coverage of convective weather affecting 30 percent 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 particular area. The main difference lies in the extent of coverage and how the thunderstorms are spatially distributed:

1. Isolated Thunderstorms:
   • Isolated thunderstorms are relatively rare occurrences that happen sporadically and are generally confined to a limited area.
   • These thunderstorms are often characterized by being few and far between, with significant gaps between individual storm cells.
   • Typically, isolated thunderstorms cover less than 20% of the forecast area.
   • Despite their isolated nature, these storms can still be intense and may produce heavy rain, lightning, gusty winds, and possibly hail.
2. Scattered Thunderstorms:
   • Scattered thunderstorms are more widespread than isolated thunderstorms and cover a larger portion of the forecast area.
   • In a scattered thunderstorm scenario, numerous individual thunderstorms develop, but they are not continuous or widespread enough to be classified as a “line” or “cluster” of storms.
   • Scattered thunderstorms generally cover between 30% to 50% of the forecast area.
   • Although scattered thunderstorms are more widespread, they still leave considerable gaps between storm cells, and not everyone within the forecast area will necessarily experience a thunderstorm.

In summary, isolated thunderstorms are fewer in number and more localized, covering a smaller area with significant gaps between storms, while scattered thunderstorms are more widespread, covering a larger area with numerous individual storms occurring somewhat randomly across the forecast area.

About the National Weather Service

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.”

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