MONDAY’S WEATHER-TRAFFIC: Clouds to contribute to mild start, cool afternoon

Only communities to the east of Atlanta have a slight chance of a stray shower Monday, according to Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan. (Credit: Channel 2 Action News)

Credit: Channel 2 Action News

Credit: Channel 2 Action News

Only communities to the east of Atlanta have a slight chance of a stray shower Monday, according to Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan. (Credit: Channel 2 Action News)

Clouds are working in North Georgia’s favor on a mild Monday morning, but they should have the opposite effect this afternoon.

The extra cloud cover that is holding in the heat this morning will keep temperatures on the cool side later Monday, according to Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan. After a start in the 40s, Atlanta is only expected to reach a high of 52 degrees, which is about five degrees below average for this time of year.

“Temperatures are going in the right direction as we go through the week, climbing up above average as we hit Wednesday — up toward 60 — and that’s going to come with lots of sunshine,” Monahan said. “After today, it should be a pretty sunny rest of the week, and a pretty dry one, too.”

North Georgia can thank a low pressure system spreading rain over the Carolinas for cloud cover. That system comes with a slight chance of stray shower for communities east of Atlanta, but Monahan said most will stay dry Monday.

“We get past the clouds this morning, and we’re looking great the rest of the week,” he said.

He expects the clouds to clear out quickly overnight, making the way for a cool start Tuesday in the low 30s. Atlanta should just escape freezing weather with a projected low of 33 degrees, according to Channel 2.

Temperatures are expected to make it into the mid-50s Tuesday afternoon, but Wednesday should see an even bigger warmup.

A projected high of 59 degrees is in the forecast for both Wednesday and Thursday, and Atlanta could break into the 60s Friday afternoon. After Monday, there is no rain in the forecast until this weekend, Monahan said.

“We’re going to stay dry through the work week with our next chance of a little bit of rain late Saturday into Sunday,” he said.

The projected high Monday is 52 degrees.

Credit: Channel 2 Action News

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Credit: Channel 2 Action News

With dry pavement, most metro Atlanta interstates are moving smoothly at the start of the Monday morning drive. Volume is increasing but conditions are favorable on I-85, I-75 and I-285, as well as Ga. 400, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

The exception is I-575, where a crash in the southbound lanes near Barrett Parkway is blocking the entrance to the express lanes. The entrance remained closed at 6:30 a.m., the Traffic Center reported.

Commuters can use I-575 instead, but trip times out of the northwest suburbs are increasing, according to the Traffic Center.

» For a detailed forecast, visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution weather page.

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