Heat and air quality advisories will go into effect again Friday as temperatures rise into the mid-90s.
Atlanta is expected to reach 96 degrees, putting in danger the record high of 98 set in 1980 and tied in 1986. According to Channel 2 Action News, high humidity could push heat indexes past 100 degrees this afternoon.
“The heat, the humidity, that’s going to be with us bigtime,” Channel 2 meteorologist Brian Monahan said. “Mainly dry weather. There’s going to be a slight chance for a shower later on today, but for the most part your outdoor plans are going to be dry.”
For those spending time outside, it will be important to take breaks and drink lots of water, he said. A heat advisory is scheduled to go into effect at 11 a.m. for most of North Georgia, including metro Atlanta. Heat index values could reach up to 108 degrees, creating conditions for heat-related illness, according to the National Weather Service.
The Weather Service has upgraded the risk of heat-related illness for counties south of Atlanta. An excessive heat watch will go into effect Saturday morning for portions of central Georgia, where heat indexes could push past 110 degrees, according to the Weather Service. The watch becomes a warning for coastal Georgia.
“You step outside in that kind of heat and it really kind of surrounds you,” Monahan said. “Avoid the prolonged outdoor activities.”
In metro Atlanta, a Code Orange smog alert has been issued for the second day in a row.
“Under Code Orange conditions, the outdoor air quality is likely to be unhealthy for some people,” the Weather Service said in the alert. “Children, people who are sensitive to ozone, and people with heart or lung disease should limit prolonged outdoor exertion during the late afternoon or early evening when ozone concentrations are highest.”
Temperatures will remain elevated Saturday with a projected high of 95 degrees, according to Channel 2. Some relief from the heat is coming Sunday, if only slight. Sunday is expected to top out at 93 degrees.
“The reason it’s going to be a little cooler: We’re going to see better chances for showers and storms, especially by the second half of the weekend,” Monahan said. Rain is 60% likely Sunday, he said.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
There are big delays on the Southside after a truck fire on I-75 North shut down the interstate at the start of the Friday morning drive, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
Authorities have put out the fire and cleared the scene at Jonesboro Road, but traffic is still struggling leaving McDonough, the Traffic Center reported.
There is also a crash on Jonesboro Road, creating some problems getting to the interstate at 6:30 a.m., traffic reporter Mark Arum said.
“Once you clear that everything is fine (on I-75) through Clayton County,” he said. “Just 8 minutes from Mt. Zion Road to I-285,”
» 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.
» Download The Atlanta Journal-Constitution app for weather alerts on-the-go.
About the Author
