North Georgia is following up a string of warm days with another day of sunshine, dry conditions and mild weather.
It should be nice outside Thursday afternoon for any post-Christmas plans, Channel 2 meteorologist Brian Monahan said.
“I hope you had a chance to enjoy the last couple of days,” he said. “No matter how you spent it, the weather was perfect.”
Thursday feels more like late March than late December, he said. The average high for this time of year is 52 degrees, and by noon Atlanta had already warmed well above that.
“We’re going to warm things up into the 60s,” Monahan said. “A couple of spots could touch 70 again later this afternoon.”
Atlanta’s projected high is 66 degrees, according to Channel 2.
Monahan said strong high pressure sitting across the Southeast is to thank for the warmer weather. It should mean above-average temperatures for the next several days.
“Underneath that strong high, the air is not coming from the North Pole,” he said. “Maybe you wanted that colder air for Christmas; it didn't happen. I really see no big shots of extra cold air over the next 10 days or so.”
Instead, the air is coming from the Pacific Ocean, bringing North Georgia temperatures in the 60s and 70s.
There will be some thicker clouds around Thursday afternoon, but Monahan said they will not produce any rain. There should still be plenty of sunshine, he said.
That could change by the weekend, however. The next weather system that could spread rain into Georgia is headed for the state late Saturday night.
Rain chances increase from 20% Saturday night to 70% Sunday morning, and some spots could get more than an inch of rain before the beginning of next week, Monahan said.
“It’s going to mean a wet day on Sunday and cooler air to follow,” he said.
Friday evening also has a 20% chance of some showers, but Monahan said they will mostly be light. There’s no need to cancel any Friday night plans, he said.
Even as the rain chances increase, temperatures are holding steady. Monahan said the warm streak should last through the weekend.
On the other side of the weather system, temperatures are expected to drop back into the 50s, according to the latest forecast. That’s still above average.
Thursday’s weather is nice, but plan for delays if you’re trying to get across town this afternoon.
Volume is picking up on I-75 on either side of the city as holiday travelers begin their trek home. Thursday afternoon is expected to be the worst time to hit the road this Christmas, according to AAA.
Delays are already building out of Bartow County, and I-75 is jammed in both directions on the Southside, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
Things could get worse in the next few hours for what AAA predicts will be the peak congestion period, between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.
RELATED: Here are the worst times to drive in Atlanta for Christmas 2019
At least metro Atlanta drivers can avoid construction delays for one more day. The Georgia Department of Transportation has suspended all lane closures on heavily traveled interstates and state routes near shopping areas until 10 p.m. Thursday.
» For a detailed forecast, visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution weather page.
» For updated traffic information, listen to News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB and follow @ajcwsbtraffic on Twitter.
» Download The Atlanta Journal-Constitution app for weather alerts on-the-go.
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