Rain expected to soak Atlanta

Enjoy the sunshine while you can. An approaching cold front should bring as much as 2 inches of rain to metro Atlanta on Wednesday, but there’s a slight risk that the system could also spawn severe thunderstorms.

The rain should begin during the early-morning hours Wednesday, and continue for about 24 hours, the National Weather Service said.

KIMBERLY SMITH / ksmith@ajc.com

Randy Whitworth’s red umbrella is a bright spot of color on an otherwise dreary morning as he waits for his Boy Scout troop from Hartwell to arrive for Boy Scout Day at the Capitol Wednesday.

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The greatest risk from severe storms on Wednesday afternoon will be for damaging winds and isolated tornadoes, forecasters said.

Rainfall amounts should be around 1 to 2 inches across metro Atlanta. So far this year, the city’s official rain gauge at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport has recorded only 3.04 inches of rain, a deficit of 4.62 inches.

The forecast for metro Atlanta calls for a 70 percent chance of showers after midnight Tuesday night, with lows in the low 40s.

The chance of rain and thunderstorms spikes at 90 percent Wednesday afternoon before falling back to 70 percent Wednesday night, the Weather Service said. Highs Wednesday will be in the mid-50s, followed by overnight lows around 40 degrees.

Thursday will be sunny and windy, with highs reaching the mid-50s before plunging into the low 20s Thursdsay night.

Sunny skies are also forecast for Friday, with highs in the mid-50s and lows in the upper 20s.

A 30 percent chance of showers is predicted for Saturday, along with highs around 50 degrees. The chance of rain decreases to 20 percent Saturday night, when temperatures will be in the upper 20s, the Weather Service said.

The weekend will end on a sunny note, with highs on Sunday around 50 degrees.