Rain is coming down in buckets across the North Georgia mountains, but most of metro Atlanta is waking up to warm and dry conditions Wednesday.
While the wet weather system to the north will eventually make its way into the city, Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan said it will weaken considerably by then. Still, he said, most areas north of I-20 will have a wet ride into work and school Wednesday morning.
Heavy rain is moving west to east from Calhoun and Rome into the mountains and will continue for the next couple of hours before slipping south, according to Monahan.
“By mid- to late morning we’ll have a few lingering showers around metro Atlanta, especially from I-20 north, but not the heavy rain we’re seeing in the mountains this morning,” he said. “By the afternoon, we are all breaking into some sun with highs in the low 70s.”
All of North Georgia is warm to start the day with lows in the 50s and 60s. A projected high of 71 degrees for Atlanta is well above average for this time of year.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Monahan said the rain will have a high impact on travel Wednesday morning in the mountains, where a flood watch is in effect through this evening. A lesser impact is expected in metro Atlanta.
“If you’re in the mountains, it’s a high impact,” Monahan said. “If you’re on the Southside, not much of an impact from rain, so we’ll average it at a medium impact from the rain.”
Some showers could stick around through lunchtime, he said, but mostly dry conditions are in store for the afternoon and evening.
Rain chances are much lower Thursday at just 30%, and even warmer weather is in the forecast. Metro Atlanta could make it up to the upper 70s on Thursday afternoon, according to Channel 2.
A projected high of 78 degrees in the city could threaten the record high of 79 set in 2018. Highs are typically around 60 degrees in late February.
After another day in the 70s with a shot at rain Friday, more seasonable weather will return for the weekend, Monahan said. Highs in the 50s are in the forecast both Saturday and Sunday as humidity drops and cooler air moves in.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
There are no major delays at the start of the Wednesday morning drive as most metro Atlanta interstates are still dry at 6:30 a.m., according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center. That could change as the rain moves closer to the Perimeter.
Expect a tap of the brakes on the Northside as MARTA track replacement continues in the center of Ga. 400. Northbound lanes have been shifted on Ga. 400 leaving I-285, the Traffic Center reported.
Red line service is suspended south of the Dunwoody station through the end of service Wednesday, according to the transit agency. Lenox station will be the transfer point for red line shuttle service.
» 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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