ATLANTA (AP) — Forecasters are predicting severe storms for much of Georgia.

The National Weather Service says the main threats from the storms will be damaging winds, large hail, lightning and brief heavy rain.

The storms are expected to fire up ahead of a cold front that will enter far north Georgia early Thursday afternoon and push southeast across most of the state.

The weather service expects the front to be in the Dalton and Blue Ridge areas between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Thursday; and in the Rome and Gainesville areas between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Forecasters project that the front will reach metro Atlanta between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. Thursday.