With highs in the low 70s and more sunshine in Friday’s forecast, the weather in metro Atlanta is looking just plain nice.
The city has been treated to a “spring preview” all week, and the near-perfect conditions roll into Friday, Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan said. After a comfortable start in the 50s, Atlanta is headed for a high of 73 degrees this afternoon as rain remains a distant memory.
“The kind of weather you really want to bottle, save for sometime when it’s, I don’t know, hot and humid in the month of July,” Monahan said. “This is going to be a weekend to really enjoy across North Georgia.”
The region is cooler Friday on the other side of a cold front, but not by much. Atlanta tied a record Thursday with a high of 80 degrees. The city will be at least 10 degrees below record levels Friday, but 10 degrees above average.
Highs are typically in the low 60s this time of year, according to the National Weather Service.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
“For today, a little bit cooler, but just as sunny as it was yesterday,” Monahan said. “It’s going to be a mostly sunny Friday afternoon for us. A few clouds tonight — your evening plans will be dry, though.”
After a mild night, there could be some fog Saturday morning, he said. But by the afternoon, Monahan said Atlanta will restart its warming trend as temperatures climb back up into the upper 70s. Saturday’s projected high is 77, and Sunday could be even warmer with a high of 80 degrees, according to Channel 2.
Atlanta could break a nearly 50-year record for heat Sunday. The last time the city was this warm on March 6 was 1974.
“We’re dry through the weekend,” Monahan said. “No rain to worry about today, tomorrow or through Sunday, but by Monday, into Monday night, into Tuesday, rain is coming back.”
Showers are 40% likely both Monday and Tuesday. It should help to tamp down pollen levels, which have been steadily climbing this week. Thursday’s count was considered high at 149 pollen particles per cubic meter of air, according to Atlanta Allergy and Asthma, the organization that tracks the daily pollen count.
Trees are the top contributors to the count, the organization said. An even higher number is expected when Friday’s count is released at 8 a.m., and Monahan said those numbers will only continue to rise as sunshine and dry weather prevail this weekend.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
There are still two weeks to go until the official start of spring March 20, but only one week left of standard time. Clocks will spring forward next Sunday, March 13, when daylight saving time resumes.
If your plans Friday morning take you into Midtown Atlanta, you might want to rethink them. All northbound lanes of I-85 are shut down while authorities investigate a deadly crash, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
Three people were killed in the wreck, Atlanta police confirmed to Channel 2. The interstate has been shut down north of 17th Street since before 4 a.m., and authorities have not said when it might reopen.
The shutdown is having major impacts on all interstates through the city, according to the Traffic Center. Northbound traffic on the Downtown Connector is being diverted onto I-75, and there is no access to I-85 North from I-75 South.
Authorities are forcing all traffic leaving I-75 onto the Downtown Connector, the Traffic Center reported.
The Buford Spring Connector is one possible alternate, but traffic reporter Mike Shields said it’s better to avoid the mess, and downtown Atlanta, and use I-285 instead.
» For a detailed forecast, visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution weather page.
» For updated traffic information, listen to News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB and follow @ajcwsbtraffic on Twitter.
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