A few light showers are possible this morning, but it’s the heavier rain arriving for the drive home from work that will be Thursday’s primary concern.
Showers and storms will become 40% likely Thursday afternoon and evening, according to Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Eboni Deon. While a few storms could turn strong or even severe, Deon said heavy downpours and gusty wind will be metro Atlanta’s biggest impacts.
Only a few showers are falling Thursday morning, and most of the activity is limited to neighborhoods west and south of the city.
“It’s very spotty activity, nothing that is really going to slow you down for now,” Deon said. “But I am tracking a front that’s going to be moving in as we go through the day, and that’s really going to get those showers and storms going.”
Deon said an area of strong high pressure had been responsible for North Georgia’s dry and sunny streak, but that weather system is pushing off to the east Thursday. As it does, she said clouds and moisture will increase throughout the day.
The clouds are keeping the city warm Thursday morning, with temperatures in the 60s and upper 50s to start the day. Atlanta’s projected high this afternoon is 74 degrees.
The next weather system, a frontal boundary, is expected to arrive this evening. Deon does not expect widespread heavy rainfall, but some brief heavy downpours are possible as the front moves in. A low-end severe weather threat has been issued for northwest Georgia.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
“Where we do get (rain) across some of our western counties, that’s where we are expecting to see some strong downpours develop,” she said. “We could see a half-inch to upwards of about 1.5 inches of rainfall.”
In Atlanta, Thursday’s rainfall totals will amount to less than a half-inch, she said.
“We’re going to be drying out Friday moving into the weekend,” Deon said. “Looking good in time for those outdoor weekend plans.”
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Volume is building on metro Atlanta interstates, but there are no longstanding delays as the Thursday morning drive gets underway, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
The biggest backups are on I-285 at Ga. 400, where a stalled vehicle had a right lane closed at 6:30 a.m., the Traffic Center reported. The Outer Loop was moving slowly into Sandy Springs.
» 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.
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