Heat advisory issued, storms popping up as steamy July 4th weekend begins
A Friday heat advisory will remain in effect through the Fourth of July holiday as temperatures hover in the high 90s in Atlanta and North Georgia.
Friday, in particular, saw feels-like temperatures climb to 105 degrees as scattered storms rolled over parts of metro Atlanta. Parts of North Georgia will remain under a Level 1 of 5 threat for severe thunderstorms through 10 p.m.
Before 2 p.m., rain began to pelt the Northside Hospital Peachtree Road Race expo site at Lenox Square. The sudden downpour caused water to rush into the parking lot and vendor stands, and prompted officials to order an evacuation. Operations resumed around 4:20 p.m.
Thunderstorms also temporarily grounded departures to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
It’s possible storms could become strong, with damaging wind gusts and hail, according to the Weather Service. These isolated storms could bring some heat relief to the areas they pass over.
“In spots, as those storms develop, that will be enough to bring the temperatures down a bit,” Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan said. “In between them, though, we’ll be well into the 90s.”
Saturday, when many will celebrate the holiday with cookouts and outdoor activities, will see much of the same heat. Prepare for sunny and hot conditions with high temps near 97 and the heat index pushing into triple digits again, the National Weather Service said.
The Peachtree Road Race is expected to begin under a red flag, indicating potentially dangerous conditions.
On both Friday and Saturday, the worst of the heat will be between noon and 8 p.m., the Weather Service warned.
On Saturday, for the Fourth of July holiday, the NWS warns the feels-like temperature in Atlanta will be 101 degrees. Temperatures will begin falling off around 5 p.m., but it will still be plenty hot through 8 p.m.
During the Peachtree Road Race, temperatures will be in the upper 70s to mid-80s, depending on when you start and finish that morning. By noon, Atlanta will be at 90 degrees.
The Atlanta Track Club says a red flag is the highest alert level before event cancellation.
Drink lots of water during the race and remember that you can take walking breaks.
“We encourage all participants to arrive prepared, have a race plan that accounts for the weather, and prioritize their health and safety above performance goals,” the track club said in a news release.
Sunday might bring some relief. The Weather Service predicts rain chances to become more widespread then and into early next week. That means temperatures also will dip slightly, but Atlanta will remain in the 90s until at least Wednesday.
If you’re going to spend time outdoors, especially during peak hours, drink plenty of water, try to limit strenuous activities, take advantage of air conditioning when possible and wear light-colored clothing. Remember to protect more vulnerable people, such as children and older adults, from the hottest part of the day to avoid negative impacts of heat, experts say.
Hospital visits for heat-related illnesses typically increase in June, according to Nancy Nydam, a Georgia Department of Public Health spokesperson, but such visits in Atlanta are currently lower than in 2025.
The city of Atlanta announced earlier this week its cooling center at Selena Butler Park would be closed Friday because of the holiday. The center is scheduled to reopen next week and will be staffed Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Atlanta Fire Rescue Department is also hosting 30 hydration stations at fire and EMS stations throughout the city. Locations for these hydration areas can be found here.
— Staff writers Dylan Jackson and Alex Nettles contributed to this story.