Fayette gets blustery, rainy weather; area under tornado watch

Sun, 01/24/2010 - 3:57pm
By: Cal Beverly

With temperatures in the 60s Sunday afternoon, the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City is predicting winds gusting to 30 mph out of the south and up to three-quarters of an inch of rainfall with a possibility of some severe weather.

The NWS has issued a tornado watch for Fayette County and 44 other middle and north Georgia counties through 6 p.m. this Sunday evening. A watch means that conditions are favorable for the possible formation of funnel clouds.

A wind advisory also is in effect for Fayette until 7 p.m. this Sunday evening.

“A very strong and deep area of low pressure in the upper Mississippi valley will continue to lift northeastward into this evening, while high pressure remains along the mid Atlantic coast,” the advisoty says. “The tight pressure gradient between these two systems has already resulted in strong gusty winds across north and west central Georgia, and this is expected continue and spread further into central Georgia into the evening. Many areas will continue to experience sustained winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts over 35 mph.

“The stronger winds should diminish by this evening as the low pressure area lifts to the northeast and the ridge of high pressure shifts further eastward,” the advisory says.

The Peachtree City forecast for Sunday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could be severe and produce heavy rainfall. High near 66. South wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Tonight: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1 a.m., then a slight chance of showers. Some of the storms could be severe and produce heavy rainfall. Low around 43. South wind 10 to 20 mph becoming west. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. West wind between 10 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

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