The National Weather Service forecasts mostly cloudy skies here in Cobb County on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, with a high near 86 degrees.

The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for Cobb County and other parts of the region due to marginal risk (1 on a 0-5 scale) for severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening.

What does the extended forecast have in store?

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

Today

A slight chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 3 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Tonight

Showers and thunderstorms likely before 1 a.m, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 1 a.m and 2 a.m, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday

A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Wednesday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 3 a.m, then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Thursday

A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9 a.m, then a chance of showers between 9 a.m and noon, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 72. East wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.

Thursday Night

A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.

Friday

Partly sunny, with a high near 78.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.

Saturday

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 81.

Saturday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 3 a.m, then a slight chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Sunday

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.

Sunday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.

Monday

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.

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.”

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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.

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.”