SATURDAY’S WEATHER-TRAFFIC: Drenching rain could bring relief from pollen

After a full week of extremely high pollen counts, plenty of Atlantans will be welcoming the rain and storms forecasted for Saturday.

Those storms may bring risks of their own, though, according to Channel 2 Meteorologist Brad Nitz. “Clouds but generally dry to start the day Saturday,” Nitz said. “These strong and isolated severe thunderstorms approaching from the west will be in west Georgia by around 9 a.m.”

By mid-morning, the storms are predicted to be hitting the metro Atlanta area, bringing with them heavy rains and wind, according to Nitz. “The main risk with these storms is some strong wind gusts approaching 60 mph,” Nitz said. “I can’t rule out a tornado.

Despite the risks, seasonal allergy sufferers are likely to welcome a strong, drenching rain after a pollen count over 4,600 on Friday. Nitz said to expect “a soaker,” with one or two inches of rain in the forecast.

Though the storms forecast around midday are expected to be fierce, they are also likely to move through the area quickly. The thunderstorms will be “moving by 1 o’clock into northeast Georgia, then diminishing, drying out in the late afternoon and evening hours,” Nitz said.

The weather system moving towards Atlanta will also keep temperatures down, with a high of only 71 degrees following a week where the thermometer repeatedly touched 80.

After a potentially rainy Saturday, the next several days are forecast to be beautiful and warm, with a high temperature of 73 degrees Sunday and highs of 80 degrees on both Monday and Tuesday.

The prospect of rain always brings the possibility of increased traffic, but luckily, few lane closures are planned for this weekend. Work continues on the Transform 285/400 project, so expect slowdowns around that junction.

There will also be lane closures in Midtown starting Sunday around the 999 Peachtree building at the intersection of Peachtree Street NE and 10th Street NE, according to the Atlanta Department of Transportation. The building is being used for the filming of the TV series “The Resident,” and streets will be partially shut down through Tuesday. “Filming will include simulation of a building on fire and emergency vehicles in the street with flashing lights,” the Midtown Alliance said on Twitter.