SATURDAY’S WEATHER-TRAFFIC: Atlanta warmer than average as rain holds off

ATLANTA FORECAST

Saturday: High: 79

Saturday night: Low: 51

Sunday: High: 59

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

Saturday’s temperature is expected to near 80 degrees in Atlanta as the rain holds off for most of the day.

Enjoy it while you can because the second half of the weekend is expected to be about 20 degrees cooler, according to Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Katie Walls.

“This is the warm surge ahead of an approaching cold front,” Walls said, a cold front that’s expected to produce rain showers later tonight and into tomorrow. “I hope you’re able to get outside and enjoy.”

Saturday’s low is well above average as Atlanta shouldn’t cool off below 55 degrees. The average low for this time of year is 47 degrees, Channel 2 meterorologist Brad Nitz said.

Despite the warmth, it may be difficult to spot the sun through the morning clouds, but skies should clear up as the day goes on, Nitz said.

“As we head into the afternoon, a partly cloudy sky develops ... which will get us into the upper 70s,” he said.

Atlanta’s temperature should peak at 79 degrees, which is well above average for this time of year. Those staying in town have no excuse to stay inside all day unless their allergies act up. Today’s pollen count is the highest it’s been all year, Walls said.

The interstates were crowded nearly all day Friday, and stragglers heading south to the beach for spring break might experience slower-than-normal travel times Saturday as well.

The WSB 24-hour Traffic Center predicted that I-75 South through Henry County will experience the heaviest delays, which was the case Friday.

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Those staying in town this weekend could run into some traffic tonight as country music legend George Strait takes that stage at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

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The warm weather North Georgia is experiencing should cool off overnight as an area of high pressure that’s been hanging over the South Carolina coast and keeping the rain at bay moves farther east, Nitz said.

That means storms could hit far northwest Georgia around 11 p.m. Saturday, bringing rain and to metro Atlanta overnight. The good news for Atlanta is the storms should weaken considerably before hitting the city.

“It’s going to be weakening, diminishing and breaking up some,” Nitz said. “So we’ll have light to moderate rain with a few isolated thunderstorms during the middle of the night.”

The chance of rain jumps to 60 percent Sunday before dropping to 20 percent Monday and 40 percent Tuesday, Nitz said. The added moisture will cool off North Georgia considerably, so next week will hover in the upper 50s to low 60s.