WEATHER-TRAFFIC UPDATE: Atlanta warms into the 50s ahead of arctic front

ATLANTA FORECAST

Sunday: High: 52

Sunday night: Low: 34

Monday: High: 57

» For a detailed forecast, visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution weather page.

Metro Atlanta weather is staying quiet, dry and seasonable to end the weekend.

After a chilly start in the 30s and some clouds rolling in Sunday, Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Eboni Deon said temps will warm to about average for this time of year.

“It will be another dry day as we close out the weekend,” she said. “Temperatures getting a little warmer than our Saturday as we reach those lower to mid-50s, so really looking pretty good.”

Atlanta is expected to top out at a high of 52 degrees. There’s no chance of rain in the forecast Sunday, according to Channel 2.

Overnight, North Georgia should dip down into the 30s before warming into the upper 50s for Monday afternoon. The next big weather event arrives on Tuesday, Deon said, with an arctic front expected to bring an 80 percent chance of rain with the possibility of wintry mix and even some snow.

“Temperatures get a little milder on Monday in advance of that approaching front,” she said. “We’re going all the way up to a high of 57, but temperatures will come crashing down on Tuesday.”

The area could see some wintry mix and snow showers Tuesday, though the exact timing and expected accumulation are still unclear.

“Things could still change, but we are expected to see at least some wintry precipitation on Tuesday along with falling temperatures,” Deon said.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch to go into effect late Monday night. Several metro Atlanta counties are included in the watch, including Cherokee, Cobb, Douglas, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Clayton and Fulton.

Snow accumulations are possible up to 2 inches, according to the Weather Service, mainly along and north of a line from Franklin to Jonesboro to Gainesville. The watch is scheduled to expire at 10 p.m. Tuesday.

Tuesday afternoon has a projected high of 43, then a blast of arctic air behind the front is expected to drive temps down into the 20s overnight, according to the latest forecast.

Traffic volume is light across metro Atlanta Sunday afternoon, but construction is contributing to a bit of a slow zone on the Outer Loop of the Perimeter, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

Crews working on bridge maintenance are blocking a left lane on I-285 North past Bouldercrest Road through DeKalb County.

Meanwhile, preparation for the Super Bowl continues downtown, and travelers should keep in mind that many roads are closed. For a full list of road closures, click here.

In general, be aware that traffic around Mercedes-Benz Stadium is expected to be congested this week, with concerts and other fan-centric events taking place. MARTA is your best bet when heading downtown, the Traffic Center reported.