Watches and warnings have been issued all along the Atlantic Coast as Tropical Storm Elsa continues its march toward Florida on Tuesday.
Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Eboni Deon said the storm could reach hurricane strength before making landfall early Wednesday, but it will weaken significantly before moving across southeastern Georgia. Areas along the Georgia coast are under a tropical storm watch, according to the National Weather Service.
There should be no direct impacts from Elsa in North Georgia, according to Deon. Rain chances will increase from 20% Tuesday to 40% Wednesday, topping out at 60% Thursday as the storm passes by to the south and east.
“We’ll have better rain opportunities, becoming more widespread and possibly heavy at times, and then more scattered activity,” she said. “We’re back to that summertime pattern with scattered showers and storms Friday going into this weekend.”
While parts of western Florida are already dealing with heavy rain and severe storms, conditions are much quieter in North Georgia on Tuesday. The region is off to a mild start, with a low temperature of 73 degrees in Atlanta on Tuesday morning, according to Channel 2.
Deon said more clouds in the sky will be the first indication of tropical changes headed this way. Rising humidity will be the next big tell, she said.
“You are going to notice that steamy feel to the air as you get outside this morning, and really especially into the afternoon,” she said.
Showers should remain spotty Tuesday afternoon as temperatures rise, according to Channel 2. The projected high for Atlanta is 87 degrees.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Pavement is dry Tuesday morning, but metro Atlanta interstates are seeing plenty of delays of their own, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center. The biggest backups are on the I-285 inner loop, where a tractor-trailer fire at the Cobb Cloverleaf was blocking all but one left lane.
The cleanup is impacting both I-285 and I-75 leaving Marietta, the Traffic Center reported.
A crash in Midtown has three southbound lanes blocked on the Downtown Connector before North Avenue at 6:30 a.m., according to the Traffic Center. Commuters should expect delays until the scene is cleared.
And in DeKalb County, police activity was blocking multiple lanes of I-20 East at Gresham Road.
“Delays are improving, but still use Glenwood Avenue out of East Atlanta,” the Traffic Center reported.
» For a detailed forecast, visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution weather page.
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