WEATHER-TRAFFIC UPDATE: Afternoon sunshine on first full day of winter

ATLANTA FORECAST

Saturday: High: 51

Saturday night: Low: 34

Sunday: High: 56

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

It may not look much like winter Saturday in metro Atlanta on the first full day of the season.

Despite chilly early morning temps in the 30s, the day should get sunnier as it goes along, according to Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan.

“As the humidity comes down, we are going to see sunshine,” Monahan said Saturday morning.

The temp should be at 43 by noon on the way to a high of 51. There’s no rain in sight, so the entire day should be good for shopping, holiday activities, etc.

This is “right in the ballpark” temperature-wise, since the average high is 53 degrees, Channel 2 Chief Meteorologist Glenn Burns said.

“I don’t think weather is going to be an issue tonight,” Monahan said.

If your holiday plans take you on I-85 or I-75 on Saturday, you’re in luck. The worst travel times on those interstates have already passed, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation.

If I-285 is your interstate of choice, then you might want to try to avoid driving on it from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. GDOT expects that will be the busiest time for the interstate in both directions.

Sunday will be slightly warmer, reaching the mid-50s, but there’s a 30 percent chance of rain to balance it out.

It has been the eighth-wettest year in Atlanta on record so far, Channel 2 meteorologist Katie Walls said. While we’re still not close to the record-high 71.45 inches of rain in 1948, Burns said we may be able to reach the top five wettest years on record by the end of the year.

The good news is Christmas Eve and Christmas Day should both be dry and feature seasonal temperatures varying from the mid-30s in the morning to mid-50s in the afternoon.