Hello Spring!

March 20th is the spring equinox, meaning we have moved from winter into spring. You would probably expect some warmer temperatures, but Mother Nature has thrown us a curveball. Our first day of Spring has been on the cooler side, windy, and partly cloudy due to a cold front that moved through the state this morning. It does not scream, "Hello Spring!" but change is on the horizon!

Athens will drop to a low of 35 degrees overnight staying above freezing with clouds moving out. North Georgia will be a similar story with temperatures dropping into the 30s with some areas going below freezing. A frost advisory is in effect from 2 am-10 am EDT Friday across several North Georgia counties including Clarke County. There is also a freeze warning in effect from 2 am-10 am EDT across Northwestern Georgia. Protect any outdoor vegetation from the frost or from freezing and make sure to bundle up tonight if you plan to go out. Some isolated rain showers cannot be ruled out in North Georgia overnight, but the chance of rain is very low.

Tomorrow, Athens will have a beautiful sunny day with a high of 67 degrees. North Georgia will be the same story with temperatures reaching into the 60s and it will be sunny with clouds staying out of the picture. I highly recommend taking the opportunity to enjoy the outside as much as you can.

Looking ahead into the weekend, temperatures will warm up slightly with lows in the 40s and highs in the 70s by Sunday. Like Friday, the weather will be sunny. Clouds will not be a concern so if Friday does not work for you, I am happy to announce that this weekend will give you more opportunities to enjoy the sunshine! Consider taking a walk, having a picnic, or playing some outdoor games. The sunshine and clear skies can not last forever and they will not. As the weekend draws to a close and we move overnight into Monday morning, rain is possible across North Georgia and there could be some thunderstorms. Consider having an umbrella ready Monday morning in case you need it.

Enjoy the start of Spring and have a wonderful weekend! GO DAWGS!

Jamie Giles