Metro Atlanta should see the return of sunshine Thursday and the start of what will be a cooler end of the month of December.
The region is drying out after a winter storm that carved a path of destruction through much of the South passed through overnight. The storm had weakened by the time it reached North Georgia, resulting in an inch or two of heavy rainfall but no reports of severe weather for the region, according to Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan.
The weather system is passing to the east on Thursday morning, and by sunrise Monahan said showers should come to an end for the eastern Atlanta suburbs. For the rest of the metro area, the rain is over and done.
“The rain is pushing on out right on time,” Monahan said. “We’re dry for the morning commute, but still going to be some wet pavement out there.”
As a result, motorists could contend with sluggish conditions on the roads Thursday morning. By 9 a.m., Monahan expects the clouds to begin to break up as the sun — finally — comes out.
“By early to mid-afternoon, it’s turning mostly sunny, and it’s going to turn out to be a really nice day as temperatures climb up into the 50s for highs,” he said.
Atlanta’s projected high is 56 degrees, which is right on target for this time of year and the warmest it will be over the next few days, according to the latest forecast. After a very warm start to December, Monahan said temperatures are trending downward headed into the holidays.
He is calling for a low of 36 on Friday morning, followed by an afternoon high of 52 degrees. Atlanta is not expected to get out of the 40s this weekend, and by Sunday morning freezing temperatures return to the forecast.
“The second half of December is going to get cold as the jet stream gets weaker, and that cold air from Canada drops south, into the southern part of the country,” Monahan said.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
So far this month, temperatures have been running more than 6 degrees above average, he said. By Christmas weekend, Monahan said parts of North Georgia could be down in the 30s for highs.
It’s still too early to tell if there will be any snow to accompany the frosty weather.
“Nothing imminent, but certainly the cold is going to be here,” he said.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
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