Atlanta weather | Pollen remains high as rain moves out

The early morning rain that drenched metro Atlanta had moved south and east of the area by daybreak, and skies were expected to clear by the afternoon. The weekend is looking spring-like as well.

The heaviest rain had moved out of metro Atlanta by 5 a.m., and by 8:30, the lighter rain had stopped and skies were beginning to clear.

Rainfall amounts were generally just under a half-inch across metro Atlanta, ranging from .42 inch at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to .49 inch in Dunwoody.

The rain only had a modest impact on metro Atlanta's pollen levels. While Friday's count of 432 is below Thursday's reading of 607, it is still in the high range, according to the Atlanta Allergy and Asthma Clinic.

Severe thunderstorm warnings posted for Cobb, Fulton, Cherokee, Paulding and Douglas counties expired at 3:45 a.m., and a severe storm watch expired at 5 a.m.

A wind advisory for gusts up to 35 mph remained in effect for much of the state, including all of metro Atlanta, until 5 p.m. Friday.

The National Weather Service received isolated reports of downed trees from the northwest corner of the state, but no injuries were reported. Wind gusts of nearly 40 mph were recorded at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport as the line of heavier rain moved into the area.

At 5 a.m., the squall line of storms stretched from east of Athens to just north of Macon, while a second area of heavier rain was moving through metro Atlanta. The back edge of the rain was near Gadsden, Ala.

Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Karen Minton said skies would be sunny by the afternoon.

Friday afternoon highs will be in the mid- to upper 60s, with overnight lows in the 40s and 50s.

The weekend outlook calls for sunny skies on Saturday, with a slight chance of rain moving back into the area on Sunday.

Highs should be in the mid-60s on Saturday and near 70 on Sunday, with lows in the 40s.