On a weekend that will get steadily hotter, Saturday afternoon could bring intense pop-up storms to parts of metro Atlanta.
“No wet weather in the morning hours,” Channel 2 Action News Meteorologist Brad Nitz said about Saturday’s forecast. “If you’ve got outdoor plans Saturday, early is going to be fine. By early afternoon, between noon and 3 p.m., we’re going to have some scattered showers and thunderstorms starting to develop.”
A 40% chance of rain is predicted Saturday with a high temperature of 87 degrees. The afternoon’s storms are likely to be randomly scattered around the metro area, Nitz said, but will be intense wherever they hit.
“Where these storms develop - heavy downpours, gusty winds and, of course, lightning,” Nitz said.
Most rain in the area should clear out by 8 p.m., setting up a dry but hot Sunday with a high of 90 degrees. A high-pressure system building from the southwest will keep things hot and relatively dry for the beginning of the workweek, according to Nitz. Highs are expected to consistently find the low 90s early next week with chances of summer storms on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Atlanta’s roads are likely to be busy this weekend thanks to a couple of big events. The Dogwood Festival returns to Piedmont Park in Midtown, bringing with it additional traffic and lots of pedestrians. On Saturday evening, the Atlanta Braves will host the rival Washington Nationals at Truist Park at 6:20 p.m., bringing extra traffic to the northwest Perimeter area.
In DeKalb County, watch out for overnight lane closures on I-85 for bridge rehabilitation. On I-285 West between Clifton Springs and Moreland Avenue, crews will install overnight lane closures for resurfacing work.
Also on I-285 in Clayton County, Saturday night will see lane closures on the ramp from I-675 North for overhead sign removal and replacement. In Fulton County, ramps will be closed on I-75, I-85 and Ga. 400 for safety improvements.
Elsewhere in Fulton, lanes will be closed on I-85 in both directions between Senoia Road and Metropolitan Parkway for striping. As usual, there will be lane closures and traffic pattern changes around the junction of I-285 and Ga. 400 for the Transform 285/400 project.
» For a detailed forecast, visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution weather page.
» For updated traffic information, listen to News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB and follow @ajcwsbtraffic on Twitter.
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