Weekend to begin ‘summer-like,’ but could end with severe storms

There’s a lot going on this weekend worth being outside for, but you might want to get those outdoor activities done today.

Saturday should be cloudy and dry with a high of 82 degrees and only a 10 percent chance of rain. However, the threat of potentially severe weather will most likely sully Sunday afternoon.

“A lot of clouds around, but we’re going to have some peeks of sunshine and it’s going to stay nice and warm, Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Eboni Deon said of Saturday’s forecast, “very little in the way of rain.”

The Masters got a taste of bad weather Friday, which briefly delayed the tournament. The pros shouldn’t expect any delays Saturday, but the 90 percent chance of rain Sunday could cause problems in Augusta.

MORE: Masters forecast: Wet, warm, azaleas

“I do think the Masters will experience a chance for showers and thunderstorms on Sunday, and (the chance) will be growing that afternoon,” meteorologist Glenn Burns said.

Meanwhile, the 83rd annual Dogwood Festival takes over Piedmont Park this weekend. In what’s been rare over the last few years, Burns said the dogwood trees are blooming during the festival.

“How exciting for the Dogwood Festival,” he said. “That’s been a rare occurrence the last couple of years.”

Roadwork is ruining the ride into Cobb County this morning, the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center reported.

Construction has four right lanes of I-75 shut down in the northbound lanes between I-285 and Delk Road.

Both the express lanes and ramp to Delk Road are expected to remain closed down until about noon.

The road work is also causing major delays on I-285.

The Braves host the New York Mets at SunTrust Park tonight and tomorrow. The first matchup begins at 7:20 p.m., while Sunday's game starts at 7:08 p.m.

While road work and professional baseball should cause delays near Smyrna, construction will likely stifle North Fulton traffic where Ga. 400 meets I-285.

Two rights lanes of Peachtree Dunwoody Road will be blocked from I-285 to Lake Hearn Drive from 7 a.m. Saturday until 7 p.m. Sunday, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation. Traffic pacing will also be in effect for Ga. 400 in both direction between Northridge Drive and Lenox Road from 6 a.m to 1 p.m. Sunday.

Temperatures will be well-above average the whole weekend considering the average high for this time of year is 72 degrees. The recent dry spell has also allowed pollen counts to rise. Friday’s count reached 2,017 particles per cubic meter of air, which is considered extremely high. But today’s count is significantly higher than that at 6,575, Deon said.

“The pollen count has gone way up,” she said. “We need the rainfall to wash this out.”

The pollen is expected to be quelled by a wave of storms Sunday afternoon, which should also cause temperatures to drop slightly.

A cold front will enter North Georgia on Sunday morning, and storms could start as early as 10 a.m., Burns said. The risk increases after noon, and a supercell storm is expected to form, bringing 60 mph winds, downpours and lots of lightning. Tornadoes are also possible.

“There’s a pocket of cold air aloft too, so I’m expecting large hail in excess of 1-inch in diameter,” Burns said. “That would equate to severe hail.”

The system should dissipate in the evening, leading to a dry start to the week.