WEATHER-TRAFFIC UPDATE: West Georgia thunderstorms foreshadow metro’s afternoon

ATLANTA FORECAST

Saturday: High: 90

Saturday night: Low: 71

Sunday: High: 90

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

Thunderstorms in Coweta, Carroll and Heard counties foreshadow what’s to come for metro Atlanta.

Channel 2 Action New meteorologist Brian Monahan said these storms exemplify the type of storms Atlanta and east Georgia can expect this afternoon – slow moving with heavy rain.

Rain chances for Saturday afternoon. (Credit: Channel 2 Action News)

The predicted chance of rain for Saturday is 60 percent for a large stripe of Georgia, including most of metro Atlanta. The area runs from LaGrange and Carrollton though Gainesville and Athens all the way to the South Carolina state line.

Middle Georgia and other areas of North Georgia have a 40 percent chance of rain, Monahan said.

"Not everyone will see the rain, but where we do – frequent lightning, heavy rains and gusty winds will be our threats,” Channel 2 meteorologist Brian Monahan said.

However, everyone on I-285 near Jonesboro Road are seeing lots of traffic.

Construction on four left lanes on I-285 at Jonesboro Road has slowed traffic to a crawl in both directions, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

It’s currently 87 degrees, but the predicted high is 90 degrees, which should fuel the heaviest storms this afternoon, Monahan said.

Monahan said the storms are expected to bring a lot of rain and lightning, while moving very slowly.

"These storms are just going to drift,” Monahan said. “They're not going to move very much, so where they set up, it'll be heavy rain that will continue for an extended period of time."

The line of thunderstorms should envelop the state this afternoon until fading away around 8 p.m., Monahan said.

There is a 40 to 60 percent chance of rain every day until Wednesday. Temperatures should hover in the upper 80s during the day and low 70s at night, Burns said.

If you’re considering going to Lake Lanier, Monahan said to expect rain nearby. The good news is the lake is about a foot lower than it was last week, but he said it’s still 2.5 feet above full pool. Just make sure to be careful and safe out on the water.

RELATED: What you need to know about swimming in Lake Lanier, Chattahoochee River and other open waters in Georgia

But if you’re more of an indoors person, watching the Belmont Stakes might be up your alley. Since Justify is a triple crown contender, roadways may get crowded near local sports bars.