Metro Atlanta is swapping freezing weather for lows in the 40s Wednesday morning and afternoon highs a little more typical of early January.
A projected high of 56 degrees in the city is actually two degrees above average for this time of year, according to Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan. The warmer weather won’t have long to settle in before freezing, wet conditions return Thursday, he said.
“Enjoy the outside today, because tomorrow is going to be a little wet,” Monahan said. “We’re going to see some showers move in on Thursday. We could even see a little winter mix as things winds down in the North Georgia mountains, especially as we go into Thursday afternoon and evening.”
Wednesday should be a pretty nice day, he said. Monahan is expecting a partly cloudy sky by the afternoon and plenty of sunshine. South of the city, some neighborhoods could reach temperatures near 60 degrees for highs.
“That should feel pretty nice after a couple cold days early in the week,” Monahan said. “Our changes are coming right back in with another system moving by near and to our south, and that’s going to spread some showers across North Georgia and metro Atlanta during the late (Thursday) morning hours.”
With lows in the 30s Thursday morning, it could be cold enough in the mountains for a little wintry mix, he said. It will transition over to rain, and showers are predicted to continue across North Georgia into the evening. Rain is 60% likely, according to Channel 2.
As cold air moves in on the back of that system, Monahan said there could be a few hours Thursday evening that raindrops switch to wintry mix in the mountains. Light accumulation on grassy surfaces is possible, he said.
“I don’t think it’s going to be anything like what we saw Sunday night and Monday morning around metro Atlanta,” he said. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see a few wet snowflakes flying around late Thursday evening, but it should not amount to much.”
Friday will be much colder with a projected low of only 24 degrees, and a high of 40, according to the latest forecast. Monahan expects yet another big shift for the weekend with highs near 60 degrees by Sunday.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
While most metro Atlanta interstates are moving fine at the start of the Wednesday morning commute, the northwest suburbs are struggling at 6:30 a.m., according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
Crashes are causing delays on both I-575 South and I-75 North, the Traffic Center reported. In Kennesaw, a left lane of I-575 is blocked at the Barrett Parkway exit, but I-75 and the northwest express lanes remain good alternates into the city.
Headed north, only one lane is open on I-75 just past Ga. 113 in Bartow County. Delays were not yet significant in Cartersville, but an alternate might be needed as volume builds, the Traffic Center reported.
There are no delays on Ga. 400 or I-85 out of the other northern suburbs, traffic reporter Mike Shields said at 6:30 a.m.
» 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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