It’s a sunny, warm and dry day — perfect conditions to be outdoors or enjoy DragonCon’s opening-day festivities in downtown Atlanta.
However, if you’re a driver, it’s a different story.
Tens of thousands of science fiction and fantasy fans are streaming into the city ahead of this event, which will run through the weekend. That also means surface streets are slower than normal, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
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The Traffic Center added that the Downtown Connector is also marginally slower than usual with the conference in town.
The Perimeter is also dealing with a couple of wrecks, including one that has a right lane of the outer loop blocked near I-20, the Traffic Center reported.
Cobb County is also enduring lengthy delays on I-75 North after a wreck blocked two right lanes near North Marietta Parkway, according to the Traffic Center.
The Caribbean islands dodged the worst of Hurricane Dorian, but the threat is increasing for the Southeast.
The current storm track projection shows Dorian will reach Florida’s Atlantic coast by early Monday morning as a major Category 4 Hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center.
“Let's say from South Carolina southward, we need to pay very, very close attention to this storm, with the main focus, the increasing threat now on Florida,” Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan said.
Dorian looks to be slowing down significantly. Monahan said that would mean even bigger impacts for wind and rain in the Southeast.
“Down the line, (there is) the possibility that some of this rain could move on up into North Georgia,” he said. “That would happen after Labor Day weekend. Before then, it's going to be really nice around here.”
The approaching storm prompted Gov. Brian Kemp to issue a state of emergency for 12 South Georgia counties.
RELATED: State of emergency for 12 South Georgia counties ahead of Hurricane Dorian
Dorian is forecast to strengthen over the next couple of days. Maximum sustained winds are holding at 85 mph with some higher gusts, according to the latest advisory from the Hurricane Center.
As a Category 4 storm, Dorian could reach Florida with wind speeds of 130 mph or higher.
North Georgia will not have to worry about any issues with cloud cover or thunderstorms associated with Dorian for at least a few more days.
“Weather could not be quieter,” Monahan said. “It is nice outside.”
Atlanta has hit 89 degrees, which is a degree warmer than the expected high.
“No tropical issues for us certainly today, really no humidity in the air,” Monahan said. “It’s going to be really comfortable through your Thursday.”
A similar start is in the forecast for Friday morning, with more 50s in the northeast Georgia mountains and 60s in metro Atlanta. Temperatures will rise a little higher Friday afternoon to 90 degrees, but Monahan said the sky will be basically cloud-free.
“It is going to be a very sunny finish to the work week and start to the weekend, too,” he said.
Wind will be the first indication Hurricane Dorian is closing in. North Georgia should notice the wind pick up by the second half of the weekend, bringing in cooler weather by Labor Day. The projected high Monday is 85 degrees, according to Channel 2.
“I don’t see much in the way of rain Sunday,” Monahan said. “By Monday, that would be the earliest any showers or storms associated with Dorian could get to us.”
» 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.
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