[UPDATE]: The metro Atlanta area enjoyed its warmest day of the year so far, with highs in the city topping out at 86 degrees — equaling the record set in 1981.
The uncharacteristically warm mid-April weather felt even more like summer south of town, where temperatures climbed close to 90 degrees. The highs hit 87 in the southern suburbs of Forest Park and Fayetteville.
The record temps are not expected to last, though. After a forecast high of 81 degrees Wednesday, temps are expected to top out at 69 Thursday, according to Channel 2 Action News.
[ORIGINAL STORY:] North Georgia is turning up the heat Tuesday with high temperatures more than 10 degrees above average for this time of year.
Atlanta’s projected high is 83 degrees, according to Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brad Nitz. The city would typically be in the low 70s in mid-April.
“It’s going to be quite warm if you are out in the direct sun,” Nitz said. “This afternoon we hit the high temperature of 83 around 4 p.m. No direct threat from rain today.”
Showers are back in the forecast beginning late Wednesday, he said. With the rain, temperatures will come down into the upper 70s, according to Channel 2.
Nitz said clouds will thicken up through the day on Wednesday before showers begin late in the afternoon. There is a slight chance of isolated showers by the time commuters head home from work, he said.
“That rain increases a bit through the evening and into Wednesday night,” he said. “It will clear out by early Thursday.”
Thursday, Friday and Saturday are all looking pretty dry. Temperatures will return to average with morning lows in the 40s and 50s and afternoon highs in the upper 60s and low 70s, according to the latest forecast.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
It is already warm Tuesday morning with temperatures in the low 60s. There are no weather impacts to travel, but an overturned tanker truck could cause major delays for two metro Atlanta interstates, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
The wreck is blocking all southbound lanes of I-85 north of Chamblee Tucker Road at Spaghetti Junction. Delays are not yet severe because drivers are avoiding I-85 and taking I-285, traffic reporter Mark Arum said.
“This is going to cause some major headaches as you make your way in from the northern suburbs,” he said.
Commuters can use Buford Highway or Peachtree Industrial Boulevard to stay off the interstates altogether, according to the Traffic Center.
» 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.
» Download The Atlanta Journal-Constitution app for weather alerts on-the-go.
