ATLANTA FORECAST
Saturday: High: 91
Saturday night: Low: 73
Sunday: High: 89
» For a detailed forecast, visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution weather page.
Friday reached a scorching 93 degree in Atlanta, and Saturday is expected to cool off — ever so slightly.
The predicted high today is 91 degrees, which is still six degrees above the average for this time of year, Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan said. As of 4 p.m., the heat index has reached 95 degrees
The chance of rain increases slightly today to 30 percent, but any showers should be relegated to the afternoon hours, Monahan said.
“The rain chances are going up a little bit, but not super high for your Saturday afternoon,” Monahan said. “For most of us, we'll stay dry, and it'll be a hot day.”
A low chance of rain means a high chance of construction across metro Atlanta, and this weekend doesn’t disappoint.
In Gwinnett County, one northbound lane of I-85 from Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road to I-985 will be closed for roadwork until 5 p.m. Sunday, GDOT said. One lane of I-985 from I-85 to Woodward Mill Road will also be closed until 5 p.m. Sunday.
Three right I-285 lanes in both directions between Jonesboro Road and Moreland Avenue are shut down for roadwork, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
In DeKalb County, I-285 North has two right lanes blocked by construction for U.S. 78 to Lawrenceville Highway and from LaVista Road to Chamblee Tucker, the Traffic Center reported.
The Northwest Corridor Express Lanes in Cobb and Cherokee counties also opened this morning, providing 30 new miles of toll lanes on I-75 and I-575.
MORE: New metro Atlanta toll lanes open Saturday
The temperature is expected to drop back into the upper 80s next week, but that drop comes at a cost: an increased chance of rain.
Saturday shouldn’t see much rain, with only a 20 percent chance of isolated afternoon showers. That chance creeps up to 40 percent Sunday and 60 percent Monday, which is where it’ll stay Tuesday.
Unlike last weekend, which featured tons of college football and baseball games in Georgia, this weekend should be quieter. College football fans might be heading to Florida or the Carolinas to watch their team live, but the players have already made their trips.
The game between Georgia Tech and South Florida began at noon Saturday in Tampa, which has a 40 percent chance of rain, according to local weather reports. UGA takes on South Carolina at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Columbia, which has a 20 percent chance of rain.
Georgia State is also on the road at North Carolina State. and the game began at 12:30 p.m. Saturday in Raleigh, which has a 40 percent chance of rain.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
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