Those dreaming of a white Christmas will have to hit the road this holiday, as there is no snow on the ground within 500 miles of Atlanta.
The city is looking at highs in the low 60s on Christmas Eve and low 70s on Christmas Day, according to Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan. And although there is a slight chance of a shower Saturday, there is just no way any of that precipitation will be frosty.
“It’s going to be very warm as we head toward Christmas Day, but we’ve got to get through this cold morning this morning,” Monahan said Thursday. “It’s chilly across North Georgia.”
Temperatures are near freezing in most neighborhoods Thursday morning. According to Monahan, the cold will not stick around much longer, and temperatures will top out in the upper 50s this afternoon. Atlanta’s projected high is 59 degrees.
“This high pressure is going to be moving in that’s going to shut the door to any cold air coming out of Canada over the next few days,” he said. “Christmas Day our air is coming in off the West Coast, off the Pacific. That means nice and warm for us.”
Only the Northeast and areas out West will have snow on the ground for Christmas. As for North Georgia, Monahan said it’s “going to feel more like springtime,” he said. He expects afternoon highs to hover near the 70s well into next week.
“We look beautiful this afternoon across North Georgia at the start of the winter,” he said. “We’ll add a couple of more clouds on Christmas Day for Saturday. Just a slight chance of a shower, but also very warm temperatures. No white Christmas around here.”
Saturday’s rain chances are low at 10%, and it should still be a nice day for those hoping to take Christmas celebrations outdoors, according to Channel 2. On Thursday and Friday, Monahan said “there is nothing but sunshine in the forecast.”
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Traffic conditions on Thursday morning are not looking quite as optimistic.
“Today is one of the busiest travel days of the year, and unfortunately Atlanta traffic is off to a rough start in Cobb and DeKalb counties,” traffic reporter Mike Shields said.
A fiery truck crash has shut down all lanes of I-75 South ramping to I-285 West in Cobb County, and crews remain on the scene at 6:40 a.m. Shields said he expects the ramp to be shutdown for several more hours.
“This will have a major impact on I-75 southbound through Marietta trying to get to I-285,” he said. “Your best alternate is going to be Cobb Parkway.”
In DeKalb, a deadly crash on I-85 South shut down all lanes at Cheshire Bridge Road overnight, according to Channel 2. Authorities are making progress to clear the crash scene at 6:30 a.m., and three left lanes are open.
The WSB 24-hour Traffic Center is still recommending Buford Highway as an alternate.
Thursday will be a busy holiday travel day at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Wait times at security checkpoints are elevated, but interstates to Camp Creek Parkway are moving well, according to the Traffic Center.
Security lines were stretching into the atrium before 6:30 a.m. but were moving very quickly, Channel 2 reported.
According to AAA, the worst time to drive Thursday will be between noon and 6 p.m. The best time to head out will be after 7 p.m.
» 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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