Light volume at lunch ahead of Christmas Eve congestion

ATLANTA FORECAST

Monday: High: 52

Monday night: Low: 33

Tuesday: High: 56

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

Those heading to lunch on Monday may have to battle holiday shopping traffic on surface streets, but metro Atlanta interstates are wide open.

Volume was lighter than normal for the morning drive and it appears the trend will continue through lunchtime, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

That’s not surprising, considering most travelers have already made it to their Christmas destinations. Although, according to data compiled by the traffic app Waze, congestion could build later in the day Monday.

Those headed north will be able to make use of the I-75 express lanes through Cobb and Cherokee counties. The lanes will stay northbound Monday and Tuesday and reverse Tuesday at 11 p.m., after most Christmas festivities have concluded.

Temperatures in Atlanta have warmed into the 40s, a marked difference after Monday morning’s sub-freezing wind chills. It is expected to remain dry and mostly sunny all day, according to Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Katie Walls, perfect travel conditions for those hitting the roads ahead of the big day.

“(A) breeze will continue out of the northwest, driving in that drier air, and you’ll certainly be noticing that drier air as well,” she said. “It’s quick to cool down, but it’s also quick to warm up, so I am anticipating those temperatures this afternoon to be climbing into the lower 50s.”

That’s right on target for this time of year. According to Channel 2, the average high for the week of Christmas is 52 degrees. On Sunday, Atlanta hit 62 degrees, but Monday should be a little cooler on the other side of a cold front, Walls said.

The projected high Monday is a “seasonably mild” 52 degrees for Atlanta, she said.

The rest of the Southeast will also be dry and partly cloudy for the day before Christmas, according to Channel 2.

“Whether you're heading from Little Rock, to Charleston, South Carolina, it’s looking lovely, especially as we head down toward Florida,” Walls said.

Overnight and into Tuesday morning, when Santa takes flight, more clear, cold conditions are expected across North Georgia, according to Channel 2.

“Tomorrow morning, it’s going to be chilly for your Christmas Day,” Walls said. “Notice temperatures for most of us starting off near freezing or below freezing, so please plan accordingly. The next couple of days will certainly will be on the cool side.”

Just a few clouds are expected in the afternoon Tuesday with temperatures warming into the middle 50s, according to Channel 2. The radar stays quiet through Wednesday, but on Thursday widespread rain should move in, Walls said.

Lots and lots of it.

“Ramping up those rain chances as we head into your Thursday and Friday — 80 percent opportunity for rain,” Walls said. “We are talking about 3 to 5 inches of rainfall between Thursday and Sunday. Unfortunately, flooding is a risk but at this point not seeing a risk for severe storms any of those days.”