Friday Night Lights Forecast: Dry Air and Upper 60s by the Fourth Quarter
What is the weather for Friday night high school football in Columbus and Auburn?
Friday night football across the Chattahoochee Valley will be rain-free and nearly calm, with kickoff readings of 75 in Columbus, 74 in Auburn and Opelika and 72 in LaFayette and Valley.
Photo: Yura Forrat / Pexels
Find your seat Friday evening and you will be sitting in the driest air the Chattahoochee Valley has had in months. Every town in the viewing area comes in with a zero percent chance of rain, a mostly clear sky and wind of 5 mph or less. Around kickoff, temperatures run from 72 to 77 depending on where you are, and by the fourth quarter almost everyone is in the 60s.
The coolest seats of the night are in Chambers County. Around LaFayette, where LaFayette and Chambers Academy play, it will be 72 around kickoff and 67 two hours later, and it is the same story in Valley for Valley and Beulah. Greenville, in Meriwether County, is close behind at 73 early and 67 late. Those are the three places where a sweatshirt in the bag is a genuinely good idea.
The warmest stands are in Chattahoochee County. Cusseta sits at 77 around kickoff and 71 by the fourth quarter, with humidity near 51 percent — the driest air anywhere on the list, so that 77 will not feel the way 77 felt last Friday. Lumpkin, home of Stewart County, and Preston, home of Webster County, both hold at 76 and 70.
In Columbus, where Shaw, Hardaway, Carver, Jordan, Spencer, Kendrick, Northside, Columbus, Pacelli, Brookstone and Calvary Christian all play, it will be 75 around kickoff and still 71 late — one of the mildest fourth quarters in the area. Just across the river, Central-Phenix City sits at 75 falling to 69, with Russell County in Seale at 74 and 68 and Smiths Station and Glenwood at 75 and 69.
Around Auburn and Opelika — Auburn High, Lee-Scott, Opelika and Beauregard — expect 74 around kickoff and 68 by the fourth quarter. Loachapoka and Booker T. Washington in Tuskegee match that at 74 and 68, with the air essentially calm. Notasulga runs a degree warmer.
North along the Interstate 85 corridor, Lanett and Springwood stay mild at 75 and 71. In LaGrange, where LaGrange, Troup County and LaGrange Academy play, it will be 76 around kickoff and 70 late, with Callaway in Hogansville at 75 and 69, Harris County in Hamilton at 74 and 69, and Manchester at 74 and 68.
South toward the Alabama line, Eufaula and Barbour County in Clayton both sit at 74 around kickoff and 68 late under a completely clear sky and calm wind. Randolph Clay in Cuthbert is 73 and 68, Quitman County in Georgetown 75 and 70, Marion County in Buena Vista 75 and 70, Taylor County in Butler 75 and 69, and Central-Talbotton 74 and 69.
What to bring: nothing heavier than a long-sleeve shirt when you walk in, and a light jacket or a sweatshirt for the second half. Leave the umbrella at home. Metal bleachers always read colder than the thermometer once the sun is down, so a blanket to sit on is worth more than a coat. On the drive home, the windows will be worth rolling down.
Friday night, school by school
Around kickoff → by the fourth quarter, on each school’s own clock.
No school or town by that name in the viewing area.
Central time in Alabama, Eastern in Georgia. Start times vary; check with the school. Forecast: National Weather Service.
Right now in Columbus, Georgia
85°Temperature
70°Dew point
60%Humidity
6 mphWind — east
30.03"Pressure
The next seven days
Day
High
Low
Rain
Conditions
TODAY
89°
68°
10%
Mostly Sunny
THU
81°
61°
10%
Partly Sunny
FRI
83°
59°
0%
Sunny
SAT
85°
59°
0%
Sunny
SUN
87°
60°
3%
Mostly Sunny
MON
88°
62°
17%
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers
TUE
90°
65°
4%
Sunny
Written by the CNAW 2 weather desk from CNAW 2 weather desk data. Last updated September 23, 2026 at 6:15 PM Eastern. Covering Columbus and Phenix City, Auburn–Opelika, LaGrange, Eufaula and the rest of the 19-county CNAW viewing area.
