WEEKEND WEATHER-TRAFFIC: Atlanta reached 90 degrees for first time this year

ATLANTA FORECAST

Today: Mostly sunny. High: 90

Tonight: Mostly clear. Low: 68

Tomorrow: Mostly sunny. High: 92

» For a detailed forecast, visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution weather page.

The wait is over. The temperature has reached 90 degrees in Atlanta for the first time since September.
Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan said this is the earliest Atlanta has reached 90 degrees since at least 2014.

The high today was 90, so it should begin to cool off this afternoon to a predicted low of 68 degrees. It’s currently 89 degrees in Atlanta.

It should get even warmer Sunday with a predicted high of 92, which Monahan said would be a record high for that date. Monahan said the current record high for May 13 is 90 degrees.

So it might be a good idea to move any afternoon Mother’s Day plans indoors. Sunburns and Mother’s Day don’t mix.

A code orange air quality alert was also issued this afternoon, meaning sensitive groups should remain indoors.

There’s very little chance of rain for the weekend in metro Atlanta, but Monahan said clouds will roll in Monday due to an area of tropical low pressure making its way north through Georgia.

"We can't rule out an isolated shower or two (Saturday), but the chance of rain is really low ... below 10 percent,” Monahan said.

The rain should help flush out the high pollen from the past few days. Friday’s pollen count was 242 particles per cubic meter of air, according to Atlanta Allergy and Asthma. That is in the high range.

The Gwinnett Stripers has its "Star Wars" night at Coolray Field tonight, which started at 6:05 p.m. First 2,500 people get a promotional Ozzie Albies "Star Wars" bobblehead, so roadways nearby may be congested as a result of people rushing to beat the cutoff.

The warm weather and lack of rain will be ideal for road construction workers. That doesn't bode well for those traveling for Mother's Day or headed to the Shaky Beats Music Festival or the Sweet Auburn Festival.

Expect road paving delays on I-85 in Gwinnett County during the weekend overnight hours between Hamilton Mill Road and Ga. 317, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation.

Work in Cobb County is projected for I-75 in both directions from Cumberland Boulevard to Canton Road, by Barrett Parkway and around Wade Green Road, blocking multiple lanes overnight.

Road work is also planned on Ga. 400 in both directions north of I-285 overnight.