After four days of downpours, storms and flooding, North Georgia will actually see some sunshine Friday.
“Leave the umbrella at home,” Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan said. “It is finally dry across North Georgia.”
It’s only March, but Atlanta has recorded nearly half the rainfall typically seen in an entire year, according to Channel 2. Thursday’s rain brought an additional 1.5 inches to the already soggy city, contributing to a total 4 inches of rain since the start of the month and nearly 23 inches since the start of the year.
South of I-20, a state of emergency was declared for 120 Georgia counties due to flooding. The order is intended to make it easier to move state resources into affected areas in South Georgia.
RELATED: State of emergency declared for 120 counties south of I-20 due to flooding
No rain is in Channel 2’s forecast Friday. A northwest wind blowing from Canada will help to dry out North Georgia, but it will also drop temperatures.
“The wind will just start to pick up over the next couple of hours, and then this afternoon it is going to be really gusty and windy,” Monahan said.
All of North Georgia is under a wind advisory until 7 p.m. The wind is on the light side to start the day, and temperatures are in the mid-40s across much of the region. Monahan said a breeze will really get going by 9 a.m., and by the afternoon, Atlanta could see gusts up to 35 mph.
“These temperatures will stay in the 40s for a good chunk of the morning, eventually warming into the low 50s later today,” he said. The projected high for Atlanta is 52 degrees.
At least most of North Georgia will have the benefit of sunshine. The northeast Georgia mountains could pick up a few clouds Friday, but Monahan said any snow flurries should stay to the north of the state in the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee.
“Everybody else (is) mostly sunny through today and mostly clear through tonight,” he said. “It will stay chilly for your evening plans tonight.”
Monahan said it does get warmer for the weekend, and it stays sunny. Temperatures should reach the upper 50s Saturday for Atlanta United's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and he said conditions will be near ideal for tailgating downtown.
Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday, which is forecast to top out at 62 degrees.
The dry and sunny days are limited, however. Rain returns to the forecast Tuesday with a 40% chance of showers, according to Channel 2.
A day and dry pavement can make all the difference for metro Atlanta traffic.
“I can’t believe how much better it is today,” WSB traffic reporter Mark Arum said. “We are enjoying the dry pavement out there, and lighter than normal conditions metrowide.”
After a particularly messy commute Thursday, there are no major incidents to slow down the early Friday morning drive, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center. All interstates are moving fine at 6 a.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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