It may be the start of a new month, but there will be no fresh start where weather is concerned.
March is beginning just as wet as February ended, according to Channel 2 Action News. Rain chances are on the rise Monday morning and will remain high over the next several days.
“The weekend was dry,” Channel 2 meteorologist Brian Monahan said. “Welcome to your work week where the heavy rain starts to fall.”
Another 1 to 2 inches of rainfall is possible through Tuesday night, but Monahan said North Georgia is not done there. More rounds of rain Wednesday and Thursday could amount to 2 to 4 inches of total accumulation for metro Atlanta and areas to the south, according to Channel 2.
“Right off the bat, I want to give you something to look forward to,” Monahan said. “Next weekend is going to be really nice. In between, though, we've got the wet weather to deal with.”
Pavement is dry across metro Atlanta to start the Monday morning commute, but Monahan said showers in northwest Georgia are expected to move inside the Perimeter over the next few hours.
“Have the umbrella as you head outside this morning,” he said. “You might not need it now, but you will need it around midmorning as some of these showers and downpours spread across North Georgia. There could be an isolated thunderstorm around midday, and then rain will taper off a bit late tonight.”
Temperatures should be in the 50s at lunchtime when the rain really starts coming down. That’s a bit cooler than Sunday, which reached afternoon highs in the 60s. The projected high Monday is 55 degrees, according to Channel 2.
Monday morning is starting out 20 degrees higher than the day before, however. All the clouds in advance of the rain are helping to trap in heat, Monahan said.
“Tomorrow is going to be a much warmer day,” he said, with afternoon highs are forecast to near 70 degrees. “Not a drier day though, as we’ve got more rain coming in for tomorrow.”
The second wave of rain arrives Tuesday as a cold front to the north of the state sends more downpours our way, he said. Additional waves move in Wednesday and Thursday.
“Settle in for a wet week,” Monahan said.
Drier and warmer weather is on the way for the weekend. By next Sunday, North Georgia could again return to the low 60s under a sunny sky, according to the latest forecast.
With dry pavement, the Monday morning drive is off to a smooth start, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
There are no major delays on any metro Atlanta interstates, the Traffic Center reported at 6 a.m. And after a busy weekend with several events bringing thousands of visitors downtown, traffic is much improved in and out of the city.
The Downtown Connector is beginning the morning rush delay-free, according to traffic reporter Ashley Frasca.
“Off to a calm and peaceful start on a Monday morning on the connector north and southbound,” she said.
Conditions on the roads could deteriorate as the rain moves in.
» 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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