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Cooler weather likely today, tomorrow
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Metro Atlanta residents could get a break from higher than normal temperatures the next two days beginning today with a high of 91 and a low of 69 amidst clear skies.

Wednesday will be partly cloudy with a high of 89 and a low of 71, according to the Associated Press; however, the National Weather Service is less optimistic, predicting highs of 92 and 93 degrees for Covington.

Temperatures across the state continue to be above normal everywhere in Georgia for a seventh straight month in August, according to the State Climatologist's Office. So far, the average maximum temperature in August has been 93.86 degrees, while the normal temperature is 88.45 degrees, though the average high temperature has been on the rise the past four years, according to georgiaweather.net.

According to a report by Assistant State Climatologist Pam Knox, this was the 5th warmest July for Atlanta and the 5th warmest June and July since records began in 1878. It was also the city's second warmest February through July period on record, following 1995.

Rainfall also continued to be below normal, as Atlanta received 2.67 inches of rain in July, which is 2.45 inches below normal for the month. The continued lack of rainfall and high temps caused drought levels in northern Georgia to increase. Lake Lanier hit its lowest level since September 20, 2009 due to evaporation and lack of runoff into the lake.

In South Georgia, there were increased reports of wildlife like alligators moving into residential subdivisions, most likely looking for water, Knox said. A 16-year-old football player in Locust Grove was hospitalized due to heat stroke in the last week of July.

On a brighter note, the drought also reduced the number of mosquitoes across the state, potentially leading to a decrease in mosquito-borne diseases this year, Knox reported.

Here are the high temperatures in Covington during the past 31 days according to georgiaweather.net:
Jul 23 - 92.7
Jul 24 - 92.3
Jul 25 - 89.2
Jul 26 - 93.3
Jul 27 - 91.8
Jul 28 - 91.7
Jul 29 - 93.1
Jul 30 - 95.8
Jul 31 - 96.7
Aug 1 - 92.2
Aug 2 - 97.1
Aug 3 - 99.9
Aug 4 - 87.8
Aug 5 - 95.3
Aug 6 - 93.5
Aug 7 - 91.0
Aug 8 - 97.5
Aug 9 - 95.0
Aug 10 - 96.4
Aug 11 - 95.5
Aug 12 - 96.2
Aug 13 - 92.2
Aug 14 - 91.7
Aug 15 - 87.0
Aug 16 - 89.2
Aug 17 - 92.1
Aug 18 - 94.5
Aug 19 - 96.0
Aug 20 - 94.5
Aug 21 - 93.1
Aug 22 - 97.4