The National Weather Service has issued a Special Weather Statement warning of high fire danger this afternoon and evening, Monday, October 19.
Relative humidity could fall to 30% or lower for at least four hours, with northeast winds of 5 to 10 mph.
Dry vegetation and low humidity will increase the risk of fires spreading.
Residents should check with local burn permitting authorities before burning outdoors and use extreme caution if burning is permitted.
The statement covers Cobb County, much of metro Atlanta and parts of north Georgia.
Read the complete statement from the National Weather Service below:
Fannin-Gilmer-Union-Towns-Chattooga-Gordon-Pickens-Dawson-Lumpkin- White-Floyd-Bartow-Cherokee-Forsyth-Hall-Banks-Jackson-Madison- Polk-Paulding-Cobb-North Fulton-Gwinnett-Barrow-Clarke-Oconee- Oglethorpe-Wilkes-Haralson-Carroll-Douglas-South Fulton-DeKalb- Rockdale-Walton-Newton-Morgan-Greene-Taliaferro-Heard-Coweta- Fayette-Clayton-Henry- 244 AM EDT Mon Oct 19 2026 ...HIGH FIRE DANGER CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING FOR PARTS OF NORTH GEORGIA DUE TO LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES... Relative Humidities of 30 percent or less can be expected for 4 or more hours this afternoon into the evening. Winds will be northeast at 5 to 10 MPH. With dry fuels, high fire danger conditions can be expected. Please refer to your local burn permitting authorities whether you may burn outdoors. If you do burn outside, use extreme caution.
About the National Weather Service
The National Weather Service (NWS) is a federal agency within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Its primary mission is to provide weather, water, and climate data, forecasts, and warnings to protect life and property and to enhance the national economy.
Headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland, the NWS operates through a network of six regional headquarters and more than 100 local Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs) across the country. These offices issue weather forecasts, warnings, advisories, and watches tailored to specific geographic areas.
Metro Atlanta is served by the National Weather Service’s Atlanta/Peachtree City Weather Forecast Office, located in Peachtree City. The office issues forecasts, watches, warnings and other weather information for much of north and central Georgia, including Cobb County.
The NWS also runs specialized centers, including the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) for severe weather outlooks, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) for tropical storm tracking, the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) for national forecast guidance, and the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) for solar activity that may affect Earth-based systems.
NWS forecasts and alerts are based on data from a combination of satellites, radar systems, weather balloons, surface observation stations, and computer models. The agency collaborates with emergency managers, broadcasters, government agencies, and the public to ensure that timely and accurate information is disseminated during weather events.
Its services are made available to the public at no cost, and its warnings—such as tornado warnings, flash flood alerts, and winter storm advisories—serve as official guidance for public safety and emergency response.