TUESDAY’S WEATHER-TRAFFIC: More afternoon showers, storms

More afternoon storms are in the forecast Tuesday, and some could be strong to severe, according to Channel 2 Action News.

Most of the rain activity is expected to fire up in the afternoon when temperatures are highest. North Georgia should be used to this weather pattern by now, Channel 2 meteorologist Brad Nitz said.

“It’s the typical summertime pattern: Dry in the morning, we heat up, and with that heat, which destabilizes the atmosphere, it triggers showers and storms,” he said.

Temperatures are expected to rise quickly from the mid-70s Tuesday morning into the upper 80s by 2 p.m. Nitz said it won’t be quite as hot as Monday, which reached a high of 93 degrees for the highest temperature recorded so far this year.

More showers and storms will help to hold the temperatures down Tuesday, he said. Atlanta’s projected high is 89 degrees.

Nitz said an isolated shower is possible in the early afternoon, but the coverage of showers and storms is really going to pick up around 4 or 5 p.m.

“Thunderstorms, scattered across the area, are going to push west to east,” he said. “As we head into the evening and overnight, we'll have another chance of a few showers (and) thunderstorms, which diminishes by tomorrow morning.”

The rain will redevelop Wednesday during the heat of the day, he said. Both Tuesday and Wednesday have a 60% chance of scattered showers and storms, according to Channel 2.

Areas from Atlanta to the north and east are at a low risk of severe weather Tuesday.

“The primary threat will be damaging wind gusts, with some small hail possible,” Nitz said.

For the end of the week, rain chances are coming down. Showers and storms should be more isolated Thursday, Friday and Saturday with rain just 30% likely, according to the latest forecast.

There are no major delays on metro Atlanta interstates Tuesday morning, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

Motorists could experience delays on a busy surface street, however. Roadwork on the Buford Spring Connector blocks a northbound lane before Monroe Drive, the Traffic Center reported.

» 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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