THURSDAY’S WEATHER-TRAFFIC: Sunshine returns as temps drop

After several days of showers and gray skies, metro Atlanta will finally see the sun Thursday.

There is no rain in the forecast Thursday, according to Channel 2 Action News. And although the sun will make things brighter, it is not going to help the city warm up much on the other side of a cold front.

Temperatures are starting the day in the upper 30s, about 15 degrees lower than Wednesday’s start. The projected high Thursday is just 46 degrees, Channel 2 meteorologist Brian Monahan said.

“Not too bad relatively speaking when you think of a January morning, but compared to where we’ve been the last couple of mornings, it’s going to be a shock to you as we start the day,” he said.

A gusty wind is making it feel more like the 20s outside before sunrise. Monahan said the wind will stick around well past the morning commute.

“That’s going to make it feel like its down in the 30s, I think, for a lot of the day today,” he said. “You’ll have the opportunity to have that winter coat on pretty much all day long for your Thursday.”

It may be chilly, but at least there’s no wintry precipitation to add into the mix. Thursday is the seven-year anniversary of Atlanta’s Snow Jam 2014, when about two inches of snow paralyzed the city and stranded motorists on the interstates for hours.

“Yes, it’s cold, but not as cold and as miserable as what happened seven years ago,” Monahan said.

Temperatures are forecast to return to average Friday with a projected high of 53 degrees. Atlanta is back in the 60s for Sunday, but rain is also making its return with an 80% chance of showers, according to Channel 2.

Monahan said he does not expect the rain to have any impacts on the Monday morning commute.

Credit: Channel 2 Action News

Credit: Channel 2 Action News

Metro Atlanta could use an easy morning commute after wet pavement made a mess of things Tuesday and Wednesday. As of 6:30 a.m. Thursday, conditions on the interstates are looking pretty favorable, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

“Really not too bad on the interstates this morning, just some lingering construction down Stockbridge way,” traffic reporter Mark Arum said.

Crews are blocking a right lane on I-75 South at the I-675 interchange. Arum said there are no major delays and no need for any alternates Thursday morning through the Southside.

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

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