THURSDAY’S WEATHER: Heat is here to stay and storms could arrive tonight

High temperatures and poor air quality continue to be the main weather headline Thursday, along with the potential for late storms building for metro Atlanta.

“We are nowhere near the end of the heat,” Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Ashley Kramlich said. “It is only just the beginning, and we have another Code Orange day in effect.”

A Code Orange air quality alert has been in place since late Tuesday afternoon, according to AirNow, which keeps track of air quality changes. With an air quality level of 124 out of 500, that means those who suffer from respiratory problems should limit their time outdoors.

“(Bad air quality) is pretty typical of these hot, sunny summer days,” Kramlich said. It’s caused by air pollution mixing with sunshine, creating ground-level ozone and often happens in the summer months when there is not much wind and prolonged sunlight, especially during peak traffic times.

That sunlight and stagnant air will raise temperatures into the mid-90s by late afternoon, but it will feel a bit closer to 100 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

ExploreHow to avoid heatstroke this summer in Atlanta

While highs are expected to stay in the upper 90s over the next few days, the heat index will be climbing into the triple digits tomorrow and into the weekend. It’s projected to peak at 105 for the city, while areas further south could see the heat index exceed the 110-degree mark.

We'll be seeing our warmest temperatures of the summer this weekend where heat index values are expected to exceed the 105F degree mark. Be sure to follow these heat safety tips this holiday weekend! 🥵🌡️ #gawx pic.twitter.com/RYHtkpJLAc
— NWS Atlanta (@NWSAtlanta) June 28, 2023

People training for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race on July 4 should take precautions when running outdoors during the heat wave. One way is to find your “summer pace” — slowing down according to the outdoor temperature.

ExploreCool tips for safer running in high temps, which are expected July 4th

Later this evening, a level one of five severe storm risk will go into effect for the northern part of the metro area and North Georgia. It will stay in effect at least into the first half of Friday as storms roll in from the north. They could become widespread, but Kramlich said they will likely stay mostly to the north.