The National Weather Service office in Peachtree City lifted the metro Atlanta Heat Advisory early Thursday but kept a separate Heat Advisory in effect for parts of eastern Georgia from noon to 8 p.m., with afternoon heat index values forecast to climb to between 105 and 108 across the warned area.
NWS Atlanta said the lingering advisory area will combine high humidity with afternoon highs in the upper 90s to push apparent temperatures well above the actual air temperature. The agency urged residents in the warned counties to drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned rooms during the afternoon, avoid midday sun, and check on relatives and neighbors.
Young children and pets should not be left in vehicles, the agency said.
Storm risk through Thursday
Forecasters also warned of scattered strong to severe thunderstorms across north and central Georgia during the afternoon and evening hours. Damaging straight-line wind is the primary threat, with frequent cloud-to-ground lightning and locally heavy rain possible in the stronger cells.
The Storm Prediction Center placed parts of north Georgia under a Level 1 of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms through 10 p.m. Thursday. A few storms may also produce small hail.
The pattern is forecast to continue into Friday, with heat index values in the upper 90s to near 100 across central Georgia and a continued chance of scattered afternoon thunderstorms.
What the metro missed
The metro Atlanta Heat Advisory that had been in effect for parts of the warned area was dropped shortly after sunrise Thursday as cloud cover from an overnight convective complex held temperatures in check across Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett and Clayton counties. Atlanta’s official forecast high Thursday is 91 degrees with a 60 percent chance of afternoon thunderstorms.
Atlanta Gas Light and Georgia Power reported no major weather-related outages as of 5 a.m. Thursday.
Source: NWS Atlanta / weather.gov/ffc forecast discussion, July 23, 2026; Storm Prediction Center day-1 convective outlook, July 23, 2026.
