More storms likely throughout the weekend

Thunderstorms were developing across several areas of North Georgia Saturday afternoon, and forecasters warned that the storms could become severe later in the day, packing extensive lightning.

No damage was reported from Friday night storms that dumped heavy rain in metro Atlanta and prompted a tornado warning in the Rome area.

The primary hazards from scattered severe storms Saturday afternoon and evening will be large hail, damaging winds and lightning, the National Weather Service said.

“Residents should be concerned about cloud-to-ground lightning today, as it will likely be some of the worst we have seen since last summer,” the Weather Service said in a Saturday morning statement.

The main threat will be north of a line from near Columbus through Perry to Louisville, an area that includes all of metro Atlanta.

At 2 p.m. Saturday, a narrow band of thunderstorms extended from near Blairsville southwestward through the northern suburbs of Atlanta to near Carrollton, while a second area of storms had developed near Athens.

A third round of potentially severe storms is forecast for Sunday, the Weather Service said.

The forecast for metro Atlanta calls for a 60 percent chance of Saturday afternoon showers and thunderstorms, increasing to 70 percent Saturday night. Highs will be in the mid-70s, with lows in the mid-60s.

The chance of storms is 40 percent on Sunday, when highs will be around 80 degrees.

The risk of daily storms will continue throughout much of the work week, with a 70 percent chance of storms on Monday.

Mostly sunny skies are forecast for Tuesday, followed by more storms on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Highs through the period will be in the upper 70s to low 80s, with lows in the upper 50s to low 60s.

Friday night’s storms dumped nearly 2 inches of rain in Rome, and 1.31 inches in Cartersville. Other rainfall totals included .85 inch near Mableton, .66 inch in Chamblee and .38 inch at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.