SUPER BOWL WEATHER: Chance of showers, big warmup before the game

While Super Bowl Sunday could be wet, football fans won’t have to worry about any winter weather, according to Channel 2 Action News.

It should be in the 40s overnight Saturday into Sunday morning when a system of showers moves northeast through the state. By the afternoon, Channel 2 meteorologist Karen Minton said temperatures will top out near 60 degrees in Atlanta.

“For Saturday and Sunday, the models are trending a little more on the drier side,” Minton said. “So rain chances are fairly low and we should be mainly dry when we head into the evening time, when the Super Bowl is going on, but there could be some isolated showers early on.”

It may still be too soon to tell whether Mercedes-Benz Stadium will open its retractable roof when the New England Patriots take on the Los Angels Rams in the NFL championship game. As of Friday morning, Minton said chances are good Atlanta will be dry for the 6:30 p.m. kickoff.

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The rain chance remains a low 30 percent Saturday night and Sunday morning, and Channel 2 meteorologist Brian Monahan said not everyone in North Georgia will see showers. Rain activity is expected to wind down through Sunday afternoon and evening.

Monahan does not expect any of the showers to be heavy, and rainfall amounts should be low. One thing is for sure: Atlanta will not see a repeat of the freezing temperatures that made for an icy Super Bowl in 2000, the last time the city hosted the big game.

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“The last time the Super Bowl was here, you know the winter weather we had?” he said. “No threat of that this time.”

Temperatures should be running well above average all weekend and into next week, he said.

That’s good news for Atlanta traffic, which is expected to pick up over the weekend as more than 1 million fans pour into the city.

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“We've got some extra traffic on the roads, so one thing we do not need the next couple of days (is) any weather issues,” Monahan said. “And you know what? I like this forecast.”

Drivers will still have to contend with Super Bowl road closures near the stadium and Centennial Olympic Park. Friday is the first day a major artery through the city is shut down.

Peachtree Street closed between Ponce de Leon Avenue and Fifth Street at 1 a.m. to give crews time to ready the Fox Theatre for Saturday night’s NFL Honors program. The road is scheduled to be shut down through 5 p.m. Sunday.

Peachtree Street is closed at Ponce De Leon Avenue.

Juniper Street, Piedmont Avenue and Spring Street are the best alternates, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

Martin Luther King Jr. Drive between Northside Drive and Centennial Olympic Park Drive, and Andrew Young International Boulevard between Marietta Street and Centennial Olympic Park Drive are closed until Feb. 7. Baker Street between Centennial Olympic Park Drive and Luckie Street is closed until Feb. 8.

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Mitchell Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Elliot Street, and Mangum Street between Markham and Foundry streets will also be closed until Feb. 7.

One southbound lane of Northside Drive is closed until Saturday while contractors work to build a security fence around the stadium.

MORE: Some road closures already in place, more to come