Spring starts Sunday — just not in metro Atlanta

Buford-Spring Connector to close part of Saturday, Sunday

Thinking of taking the Buford-Spring Connector this weekend? Word of advice: Don't do it.

Southbound lanes of the Connector will be shut down as a result of “routine” work, Georgia Department of Transportation spokeswoman Annalysce Baker told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Closures are rare on the Connector, which sees a daily average of 29,000 vehicles in both directions, she said. All southbound lanes between Piedmont Avenue and West Peachtree Street will be closed Saturday and Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on both days.

You may want to avoid trouble spots on I-285, I-75, I-20 and I-575, too.

» For updated traffic information, listen to News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB and follow @ajcwsbtraffic on Twitter.

Weekend to see cooling trend

Cold and rainy weather is on the way.

Saturday could bring isolated showers to the north about 1 p.m. Heavier, more widespread downpours are expected to start about 4 p.m. and last through 8 p.m. It won’t taper off completely until about 11 p.m. Saturday.

Metro Atlanta shouldn’t rule out thunder, but the area probably won’t get any severe storms.

The good news about the weekend forecast is colder, wetter weather could also mean less pollen — much appreciated after Atlanta saw the highest pollen count of the season so far this week.

The bad news is temperatures will top out in the upper 60s Saturday, the lower 50s Sunday and the high 50s Monday, the day frost is in the forecast.

Monday’s expected low is 35 degrees.

» Check the full forecast and track changes

Publix Georgia Marathon, health expo on weekend agenda

The weekend schedule is packed with health and fitness events from a marathon expected to bring out nearly 30,000 people to a dental conference.