Georgians are being warned to exercise caution at beaches this week, as Tropical Storm Imelda is expected to create dangerous surfing and swimming conditions along the coast.
While the storm itself is not projected to directly impact north and central Georgia, its presence could lead to high surf and swells in the region, prompting the National Weather Service to issue advisories for local beaches.
Residents along the Georgia coast should remain vigilant, especially with the expectation of massive waves reaching heights of 5 to 6 feet, making swimming and surfing treacherous.
The high surf advisory, effective from 8 p.m. Monday to 8 a.m. Saturday, encompasses coastal Bryan, Chatham, Liberty, and McIntosh counties, as indicated by the National Weather Service.
Additionally, there’s a risk of hazardous rip currents until 8 p.m. Monday, with the potential for localized beach erosion.
The NWS cautions that rip currents can quickly sweep even experienced swimmers away from the shore into deeper waters.
Inexperienced swimmers are advised to stay out of the water and swim only near lifeguards.
If caught in a rip current, swimmers should relax and float rather than fight against the current.
They should attempt to swim parallel to the shore to escape the current if possible and signal for help if necessary.
In terms of the broader weather outlook for Georgia, the northern and east-central regions may experience isolated showers and thunderstorms on Monday and Tuesday.
The National Weather Service anticipates dry and breezy conditions may follow into the latter half of the week, leading to warm and humid temperatures before a fall-like cool-down expected after Wednesday.
While severe weather is not expected for the north and central parts of the state, including metro Atlanta, this week might still bring varies weather patterns.
The following is the Monday morning forecast for metro Atlanta:
On Monday, citizens can expect mostly sunny skies with highs around 82 degrees Fahrenheit, accompanied by northeast winds at approximately 10 mph gusting up to 20 mph.
In the evening, temperatures will drop to around 66 degrees Fahrenheit under mostly cloudy skies, with northeast winds of 5-10 mph gusting as high as 15 mph.
By Tuesday, weather conditions are predicted to be partly sunny, with similar high temperatures around 82 degrees.
Tuesday night will see partly cloudy conditions with lows dipping to around 64 degrees, and gentle east winds are anticipated.
On Wednesday, the forecast remains mostly sunny, continuing the trend with highs once again around 82 degrees, alongside gentle northeast winds.
As for Wednesday evening, the outlook forecasts mostly clear skies with nighttime lows around 60 degrees.
Overall, Georgia residents should remain alert for changing conditions this week, especially near the coast where Tropical Storm Imelda may pose risks to beachgoers.
image source from：patch
