Sunny skies, only a slight chance of rain, on tap for the weekend

This weekend's weather should cooperate – for the most part – with the packed schedule of outdoor events across metro Atlanta that includes the Atlanta Dogwood Festival at Piedmont Park, Braves home games at Turner Field and the 34th annual Big Shanty Festival in downtown Kennesaw.

"The weekend looks very nice," said WSB-TV meteorologist Karen Minton.

The pollen is even beginning to decrease, according to measurements taken by the Atlanta Allergy & Asthma Clinic. Thursday's  count of 1,470 was in the extremely high range but well under last week's peak of 5,733 particles of pollen per cubic meter of air.

The forecast for Friday, the opening day of the Dogwood Festival, is for picture-perfect weather: sunny with a high near 80.

While there's a slight chance of showers Saturday afternoon, "it will not be a washout," Minton told the AJC. "The rain will be scattered, and there will be sun for a good part of the day."

Minton said high pressure responsible for the late-week sunshine will weaken enough for a cold front to move in from the central U.S. on Saturday.

"Moisture is limited, so rain chances are low," Minton told the AJC. "The morning starts out clear, then increasing clouds during the day, and a 20 percent chance of showers in the afternoon."