FRIDAY’S WEATHER-TRAFFIC: Sunshine to push afternoon highs into upper 60s

Metro Atlanta weather is pulling out all the stops Friday with highs expected near 70 degrees and lots of sunshine in the forecast.

After a chilly start in the 40s in town, things will warm up quickly, Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan said. Atlanta is typically in the upper 50s this time of year, but Friday afternoon will feel more like spring than winter.

“How about a 70-degree Friday in February? That feels really good,” Monahan said. “It’s going to be beautiful this afternoon.”

Monahan expects to shed the heavy coats and jackets by 10 or 11 a.m. Atlanta will stay dry throughout the day and turn mostly sunny this afternoon, he said.

Nice weather has been on repeat all week, but Atlanta will change the track this weekend as much colder air moves in. By Sunday, the city could wake up to lows in 20s, and highs in the 40s are in store that afternoon, according to Channel 2.

“All the cold weather is locked up to the north,” Monahan said. “It’s not going to bother us today, or really Saturday as well. Saturday is going to be our day of changes as a cold front moves in and starts to open the door for this cold air.”

A few sprinkles are possible Sunday morning as the front moves through North Georgia, he said. Most of the region should be dry but chilly for the second half of the weekend.

Atlanta's projected high is 69 degrees Friday.

There are no early delays on metro Atlanta interstates Friday morning, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center. The Downtown Connector is moving smoothly at 6:30 a.m., and there are no early issues on I-285, the Traffic Center reported.

“No traffic concerns into and out of Atlanta if you’re heading to the airport this morning,” traffic reporter Mike Shields said. “ I-85, I-75, I-285 circling Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, no issues as of now.”