It’s still summertime, so it’ll still be hot. But the week ahead will be slightly less oppressive than the last few days, and it could be wet and stormy.

Showers and thunderstorms are forecast for every afternoon and evening through the weekend, and some of the storms could be severe, producing high winds, hail and frequent lightning.

After several days of temperatures in the mid 90s, temperatures should drop to around 90 for much of the week, according to forecasters at the National Weather Service office in Peachtree City.

Any reprieve from the oppressive heat will be short-lived. Forecasters say that at least through the middle of August, most of Georgia will likely be warmer and drier than normal.

While southwest Georgia is in the midst of an exceptional drought, with only isolated showers across the region in the last few weeks, Northeast Georgia has gotten enough rainfall to avoid a drought designation. The state climatologist’s office classified North Georgia as “abnormally dry.”

Despite the hot, dry weather, Lake Lanier is just a few feet below full pool. At 3 p.m. Monday, Lanier was at 1,067.64 feet, a little less than 4 feet from full pool.

Downstream, the drought has so far not affected lake levels severely, either. Lake Walter F. George, just south of Columbus, is just 2 feet below its full pool. Lake Seminole, in extreme southwest Georgia, is less than a foot below its full pool.

Levels are expected to drop, however, as the summer goes on. Even if Georgia receives normal rain the remainder of the season, the drought is expected to continue, said state climatologist David Stooksbury.