Storms force Shaky Knees evacuation with more rain possible Sunday
Severe storms prompted a Saturday evening evacuation of the Shaky Knees music festival at Piedmont Park, and more rain is possible on Sunday, the event’s final day.
The National Weather Service warns of a Level 1 of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms until 11 p.m. Saturday in North and parts of Middle Georgia. Heavy rain and frequent lightning are expected.
Increased moisture has led to scattered storms across the state, but areas under the Level 1 risk could see strong showers with damaging wind gusts of up to 60 mph, according to the Weather Service. That zone includes Atlanta, north toward Dalton and Blairsville, and south toward Griffin and Columbus.
Shaky Knees, expected to draw at least 50,000 people over three days, told fans to leave the Midtown park around 7 p.m. as those strong storms blew into the city and surrounding areas.
“For your safety we are evacuating the park. Please calmly head to the nearest exit. Follow staff instructions and monitor festival communications including social media and app notifications for updates,” festival organizers posted on social media.
More potential showers and thunderstorms are possible Sunday, when the Weather Service said storms could turn severe again. The chance for rain is greatest in the afternoon and evening.
North Georgia is also dealing with unseasonably warm temperatures. Atlanta was predicted to reach a high of 94 degrees Saturday, and the NWS expected the heat index, which factors in humidity to measure the feels-like temperature, to climb to just above 100 degrees. The temperature reading just before 6 p.m. Saturday at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport reached 91 degrees before falling 20 degrees within two hours, according to the Weather Service.
The Weather Service forecasts the heat index to rise again to the high 90s or mid-100s on Sunday.
Isolated thunderstorms will become more widespread come Monday as a front approaches from the Mississippi River Valley, the NWS said. Rain chances will remain around 50% through Tuesday, before a ridge of high pressure shifts winds and cuts off moisture coming in from the Gulf.
Temperatures will turn more moderate by Wednesday, with highs in the high 80s to the low 90s, and then settle in the low to mid-80s by the end of the week. Overnight lows will also drop into the 60s Wednesday and Thursday.
“We’ll get a pleasant taste of fall,” the Weather Service said regarding lows toward the end of next week.