Atlanta weather | Severe storm threat Friday; arctic blast to follow

Metro Atlanta and North Georgia can expect another round of heavy rain and damaging winds leading into the weekend, followed by a dramatic drop in temperatures going into the new week.

The FOX 5 Storm Team is declaring Friday a Storm Alert Day.

Friday's anticipated storm system is capable of producing dangerous winds and strong tornadoes. It comes ahead of a one-two punch of Arctic air, which will dramatically drop the temperature from Monday into Tuesday.

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Weather Friday in Atlanta

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An atmospheric disturbance from Mississippi through the Carolinas is expected to develop which could lead to supercell thunderstorms. Those storms have the potential to spin-up strong tornadoes, damaging wind gusts, periods of heavy rain, and deadly lightning.

The greatest risk of this severe weather is going to be in northwest Alabama westward into Mississippi.

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While showers could appear early Friday, the warm front is expected to hit the state around 11 a.m., which could bring severe weather by noon.

The first possible severe weather will be isolated strong to severe storms that could spawn tornadoes. The full line of quick-moving storms that will cause the most serious impact is expected to pass through the area at 2 p.m. and not stay long.

The threat for tornadoes has been scaled back to a level 2 out of 5 for all of north Georgia. Right now, the greatest threat appears to be damaging winds from severe storms that could reach up to 60 mph.

A Wind Advisory is up for most of Georgia starting at 7 a.m. on Friday. Winds will be out of the south at 15 to 20 mph with wind gusts up to 40 mph possible. Additionally, a High Wind Warning is in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m Friday for the higher elevations of the north Georgia mountains where winds could gust as high as 50 mph.

This front will likely produce much less rain than Tuesday's storms, due to the fast movement of the front.

The threat should pass quickly, leading to drier weather on Friday night. The temperature will drop by about 30 degrees. Overnight lows will be around 30 degrees in town.

Weather for Atlanta this weekend

Drier air will move into north Georgia for Saturday and Sunday.

Highs will be in the low to mid-40s on Sunday with lows around 30 under clear to partly cloudy skies. With the wind chill, temperatures could get as low as the teens or low 20s early Saturday morning. 

Sunday, highs will be near 50 with the low just above freezing in town.

There will be another chance of showers on Monday, but not as significant as the storms which are forecast for Friday. Highs will be in the mid-40s but will be dropping dramatically moving into the overnight hours.

Monday evening will likely see temperatures in the mid-teens with a slight chance of rain and snow showers in north Georgia.

It is still too early to determine where or when that potential winter weather might be, but stick with the FOX 5 Storm Team for the latest.

FOX Weather contributed to this report.