Storms likely today

The National Weather Service is forecasting cooler weather this weekend.

Heavy rainfall is expected this afternoon with thunderstorms also in the forecast, according to the National Weather Service.

A high is expected near 74 accompanied by southeast winds with gusts as high as 25 mph. The chance of precipitation is 100 percent, with new rain amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.

Rain will likely continue tonight, mainly before 2 a.m., with the chance of rain dropping to 70 percent and up to another quarter of an inch possible.

The good news is rain so far this year is trending upward after three years of relatively dry beginnings.

To date, Floyd County has seen 15.57 inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service. The Georgia Automated Environmental Monitoring Network puts that figure at 16.8 inches. The NWS gets its numbers from Richard B. Russell Regional Airport, while the GAEMN monitors rainfall from a station off Old Bell’s Ferry Road. Last year, the GAEMN recorded only 14.9 inches of rain through March and only 12 inches over the same time period in 2015 and 2014.

The rainclouds will diminish Tuesday, with a mostly sunny sky with a high near 80. Tuesday night is expected to be clear with a low around 54.

Wednesday’s forecast calls for a 50 percent chance of showers and a partly cloudy sky, with a high near 78 degrees. Thunderstorms are possible with a nighttime chance of rain rising to 60 percent.

Thursday will be significantly cooler: A high near 63 and a low around 41 with only a 20 percent chance of rain.

Friday’s high is predicted to be in the lower 60s, but sunny, with an overnight low of 38.