Storms and heavy rain on tap through the weekend

After a quiet Sunday morning, expect more rain in the afternoon, with a high in the low 80s and a low of 70, Channel 2 Meteorologist Brad Nitz said.

“There will be only a few isolated showers to start the day Sunday, but then, as we head into the afternoon, showers and thunderstorms become widespread,” Nitz said.

A flash flood watch has been extended for all of metro Atlanta through Sunday morning due to heavy rains Friday and Saturday, Nitz said.

If it seems unusually rainy this year, that’s because it is. This year 40.02 inches or rain has fallen in metro Atlanta, as compared to the average total of 25.5 inches Nitz said.

“It is not uncommon for us to see scattered showers or storms develop in the afternoon in the summer,” Nitz said. “What is unusual is how much rainfall we’ve had this year.”

GDOT is restricting construction-related lane closures until 5 a.m. Monday.

“We anticipate heavy traffic over the Independence holiday week,” said Georgia Department of Transportation spokesman Thomas Howell, in a statement. “To lessen the impact on traffic, the GDOT has restricted lane closures on interstates and major state routes.”