After a shock of winter weather Monday, metro Atlanta is settling into the cold Tuesday with another frigid start in the 20s and 30s.
There is no snow left on the ground inside the city, but temperatures are actually lower than the day before, according to Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan. While a warmer afternoon is in store, Monahan said winter will really hit its stride in the coming days and weeks.
“All that warmth we had in December and to start the year, that is gone,” Monahan said. “High pressure that kept us so warm is down across the Gulf of Mexico, and that means our temperatures are going to get a lot colder around here.”
Temperatures at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport bottomed out at 30 degrees overnight, with light wind making it feel more like the 20s outside. The howling wind that topped speeds of 44 mph and arrived with Monday’s wintry mix is long gone, and Monahan said it might not feel as cold outside Tuesday.
Still, with freezing temperatures, mountain counties could be waking up to snow still on the ground. Combined with moisture in the air, frost on windshields is likely and icy patches on roads are possible, Monahan said.
“It’s a cold start to a Tuesday morning, but it is going to be a dry day for us today,” he said. “Eventually a warmer day too, up to about 50 degrees this afternoon. No wet weather today, no wet weather Wednesday. The next time you will need the umbrella will be Thursday afternoon.”
A projected high of 50 degrees in Atlanta is four degrees below average for this time of year. For some perspective, the city broke several heat records last week with a string of highs in the mid-70s.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Wednesday should be even warmer with a projected high of 56 before Thursday’s 60% chance of rain, according to the latest forecast. Temperatures will take another tumble behind the wet weather system, however.
Monahan is predicting highs in the 40s Friday after a freezing start in the upper 20s. There could be enough cold air for a few wet snowflakes in the mountains as the precipitation wraps up Thursday night, he said.
“It should not add up to very much,” he said. “It should not be like what we saw even 24 hours ago. This will move out, and it gets very cold again as we go toward the end of the week.”
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
There have been reports of patchy ice in Cobb County as the Tuesday morning drive gets underway, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center. Commuters who take I-575 South should watch for issues at the Barrett Parkway exit.
Otherwise, volume is building but interstates are moving smoothly, the Traffic Center reported at 6:30 a.m. There are no major delays or longstanding closures inside the Perimeter.
» 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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