Thursday should be another mostly dry day for North Georgia before tropical moisture settles in and conditions turn soggy for the weekend.
Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Jennifer Lopez is calling for a 30% chance of a spotty shower or thunderstorm Thursday afternoon for areas from Atlanta to the south. Most of the region should stay dry, however.
There is no rain to worry about Thursday morning, and temperatures are starting out moderate in the upper 60s and low 70s. A high of 84 degrees is in the forecast for Atlanta.
“If you want to head out right now and do some exercise, this morning is the better time because as we get into the afternoon, more showers are going to pop up,” Lopez said.
The chance for rain increases to 70% Friday afternoon, and Lopez expects a good coverage of downpours all across North Georgia. The same pattern will continue Saturday and into Sunday, she said, and rain will really start to add up.
“It does indicate that some areas, especially from Atlanta to the east, could could pick up 2 inches of rain or more,” she said. “Other spots around Atlanta toward the Alabama state line could get a half-inch to an inch of rain.”
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
The weekend rain will be fueled by tropical moisture, but Lopez said there should be no direct impacts from any of the tropical systems currently surging through the Atlantic. Hurricane Earl, the second hurricane of the season, is expected to strengthen into the season’s first major hurricane over the next few days, but it is not forecast to make landfall.
According to the latest storm track predictions, the storm’s center is expected to pass southeast of Bermuda before continuing northward and taking a turn to the northeast, curving away from the United States. Swells generated by Earl are building near Bermuda and are expected to reach the East Coast later Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center.
“Nothing for us as we go through the weekend from the tropics,” Lopez said. “We just have that tropical air in place, and it’s going to bring us a good chance for some wet weather starting tomorrow afternoon and then continuing through Saturday, and even into Sunday.”
Lopez is expecting “a good chance for soggy weather” on Saturday. After spotty showers Saturday morning, she said “during the afternoon it really could be pouring, especially around Atlanta and areas out toward Gainesville, Athens and into Eatonton.”
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
— The Associated Press contributed to this article.
» 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.
» Download The Atlanta Journal-Constitution app for weather alerts on-the-go.
About the Author
