Plenty of sun and a high pollen count will accompany the first official day of spring this Saturday, but the temperature seems to have missed the memo.
The spring equinox is here, but temperatures will only make it to the mid-50s, according to Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brad Nitz. “A mostly sunny start to the day will be in the upper 30s across most of the metro area to start your Saturday morning, so a cold start to the day,” Nitz said. “Then cool in the afternoon, topping out in the 50s with just a few more clouds.”
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Morning lows of 38 degrees are about 7 degrees cooler than usual this time of year, Nitz said. That won’t stop the pollen, though, after a warm and rainy week. Friday’s pollen count was 363, which is technically high, but pales in comparison to the four-digit pollen counts we’re likely to see in the near future, according to Nitz.
“The first weekend of spring will be cool but dry, mostly sunny... but a little warmer on Sunday,” Nitz said. Beyond Saturday, the temperatures will slowly rise but rain will return with warmer weather by the middle of the workweek.
Traffic should be typical around the metro area this weekend, though there will be delays related to lane closures on I-75 around the busy interchange with Barrett Parkway. Construction crews will be performing rehabilitation on the Barrett Parkway bridge and will have multiple lanes closed traveling both northbound and southbound. The I-75 northwestern express lanes will be closed until 11:30 a.m. Saturday before reopening in the southbound direction the rest of the weekend.
Other lane closures and possible delays will cluster around the ongoing Transform 285/400 project, where construction crews continue with bridge construction, road work and adding noise barriers. The I-285 west ramp to Roswell Road will be closed all weekend, but the Ga. 400 south ramp to I-285 west will reopen.
» For a detailed forecast, visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution weather page.
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