WEATHER-TRAFFIC: Cold wind helps metro Atlanta dry out

Flurries have ended in North Georgia Friday as a cold wind continues to blow.

Snow showers and wintry mix were reported all over the metro area during the morning drive, including in Cherokee, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett and Paulding counties, according to Channel 2 Action News.

Nothing stuck inside the Perimeter, but the brief snowflakes were a welcome sight for those aching for a trace of real winter.

Anything more than a dusting would have been hard to pull off, Channel 2 meteorologist Brian Monahan said.

“The pavement is really warm because it was just so warm this week,” he said.

Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

Temperatures in the 30s and 40s Friday morning were a marked change from the 50s and 60s just 24 hours before. The cold air is coming on the heels of a weather system that battered the region with heavy rain, severe thunderstorms and gusty wind for the better part of Thursday.

RELATED: Rain tapers off, but flooding risk continues for metro Atlanta

“The rain is gone, but the ground is really wet,” Monahan said. “We're going to have some wind gusts between 30 and 35 mph today that could bring down some additional trees and power lines.”

Flooding also remains a concern. North Georgia is no longer under a flash flood watch, but the National Weather Service has issued flood warnings for several rivers, creeks and streams that have risen above flood stage.

Officials in Gilmer, Pike, Union and Upson counties called off school Friday because of ongoing flooding, Channel 2 reported. Several other districts in far North Georgia operated on a two-hour delay, including Chattooga, Dawson, Fannin, Lumpkin and White.

View a full list of school closings and schedule changes here.

“It is windy. It is cold,” Monahan said. “It is going to stay windy and cold all the way through the day.”

He does not expect to see much improvement with the wind throughout the day. Most of the showers and wintry precipitation are gone, and the region will be looking at a partly cloudy sky by 2 p.m.

Temperatures, however, are only expected to reach the lower 40s. Atlanta’s projected high is 43 degrees, according to Channel 2.

“That is going to be a cold afternoon for you,” Monahan said.

Saturday afternoon should be slightly warmer with highs in the low 50s, but Monahan said there is another chance of wintry mix and snow showers in between. Saturday has a 40% chance of wet weather during the morning hours.

By Sunday, metro Atlanta will be back in the 60s under a mostly sunny sky, according to the latest forecast.

Traffic conditions remain light on most Atlanta roadways Friday, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

There are some local delays due to construction in Cherokee County. South of Airport Drive, roadwork was blocking one southbound lane of I-575 at Hickory Flat Highway, the Traffic Center reported.

In Cobb County, a power outage is impacting traffic along Barrett Parkway. The lights are out from Barrett Lakes Boulevard to I-575, according to the county’s Department of Transportation.

And in Atlanta, roadwork on Northside Drive was blocking a right lane headed north at 10th Street, the Traffic Center reported.

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

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