Right now in South Fulton, the air is about 68°F, but the model estimates the asphalt under your dog's paws is closer to 68°F — the surface and air have nearly converged because the pavement is shedding the day's stored heat after dark. That reading puts South Fulton in the clear for an ordinary walk. Air temperature alone would have told you none of this — the pavement, not the forecast, is what your dog actually stands on.
Only 2 hours of today are left in South Fulton, and the pavement is not expected to climb past about 68°F in that time. The surface is already coming down, about 3°F over the next three hours, so waiting a little works in your favour here.
In an average October, South Fulton sees highs around 74°F and overnight lows near 55°F. Those are forgiving numbers, but don't let them lull you — a sunny, still afternoon can still heat dark asphalt far above the air, especially for low-riding or short-coated dogs. For this month the normals suggest pavement rarely reaches unsafe temperatures here, but the seven-second hand test is still the final word on any given day.
South Fulton loses its all-day safe window in 5 months of the year — May through September — and October is not one of them. The year peaks in July at an average high of 88°F against 54°F in January, a 34°F swing that decides how much of the day belongs to your dog.
The nearest place we track is Atlanta, about 20 miles away. That is close enough to move together in a heat wave but far enough that a passing cloud bank or a coastal breeze can put real distance between the two readings, so check South Fulton's own page rather than assuming.
Whatever the number says, confirm it with your hand: press the back of it flat on the pavement for seven seconds. If you can't hold it there, neither can your dog. Conditions in South Fulton are on the gentler side right now, but keep the same habits: water before and after, grass over asphalt, and a close eye on flat-faced breeds, seniors, and puppies, who overheat and burn sooner than a healthy adult dog.