After mid-week highs in the 90s, forecasters are promising cooler – and rain-free — weather for the Fourth of July, but travelers headed to the Georgia coast for the holiday weekend should expect a chance of rain courtesy of Tropical Storm Arthur.
From events to weather, here’s what you need to know to about the holiday weekend, metro Atlanta.
Metro Atlanta forecast: Channel 2 meteorologist Karen Minton is predicting a 10 percent chance of a pop-up shower Thursday, followed by sunny skies Friday through Sunday.
Afternoon highs will be around 90 Thursday, but should top out around 87 the rest of the week. Morning lows will be in the mid-60s. Check the full weekend weather forecast and track changes.
Coastal Georgia forecast: The National Weather Service said Tropical Storm Arthur is expected to strengthen to a hurricane early Thursday off the Georgia coast, then move northeastward toward North Carolina's Outer Banks.
The chance of showers and thunderstorms for the Georgia coast is 30 percent Thursday and 20 percent Saturday and Sunday. The Fourth should be sunny along hte coast, the Weather Service said.
Highs will be in the low 90s through Friday and upper 80s Saturday and Sunday.
What about the Gulf coast?: If your holiday weekend plans include a trip to the Florida panhandle, you can expect a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms daily, with afternoon temperatures climbing to around 93 Friday, 90 Saturday and 88 Sunday.
Good news on road construction: The Georgia Department of Transportation has suspended construction-related lanes closures on the interstates, beginning at noon Thursday and continuing through 5 a.m. Monday. For up-to-the-minute traffic updates all weekend, visit the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
Bad news on gas prices: It will cost, on average, nearly 30 cents a gallon more to fill up your gas tank than a year ago, according to atlantagasprices.com.
Metro Atlanta’s average price for a gallon of regular unleaded Thursday was $3.66, well above last year’s price of $3.37.
Road race tops weekend events: The holiday weekend's slate of events kicks off with Friday morning's AJC Peachtree Road Race.
The Braves play a three-game series against Arizona at Turner Field this weekend. Game times are 7:35 p.m. Friday, 4:10 p.m. Saturday and 1:35 p.m. Sunday.
Philips Arena will host the Atlanta Dream-Washington Mystics game at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Numerous fireworks shows are planned this weekend around metro Atlanta. Click here for a full list of fireworks and other Independence Day weekend events.
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