WEATHER-TRAFFIC UPDATE: Atlanta just misses 90 degrees
ATLANTA FORECAST
Today: Mostly sunny. High: 89
Tonight: Few clouds. Low: 63
Tomorrow: Mostly sunny. High: 90
» For a detailed forecast, visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution weather page.
Atlanta almost broke the 90-degree barrier for 2018. Almost.
The temperature hit 89 degrees earlier Friday, which Channel 2 Action News Chief meteorologist Glenn Burns said is the warmest so far this year. It’s currently 88 degrees. The average high this time of year is 79.
89° was today's high temperature for Atlanta, the warmest so far this year. I'm tracking record heat in the 90s this weekend live on @wsbtv at 5pm.
— Brad Nitz (@BradNitzWSB) May 11, 2018
In addition to the heat, there was a Code Orange smog alert Friday. A Code Orange alert means people with respiratory issues, older adults and children are at greater risk from exposure to the ozone.
There’s a slight chance of showers in the forecast through the weekend, Channel 2 reported. But expect a mostly dry few days, with the next real chance of rain likely Tuesday.
POLLEN COUNT: Tree pollen has risen in the past 24 hours to the high range. Grass is moderate, and weed pollen is low. pic.twitter.com/44bFR8IyuL
— Karen Minton (@KarenMintonWSB) May 11, 2018
Friday’s pollen count was 242 particles per cubic meter of air, according to Atlanta Allergy and Asthma. That is in the high range.
Mother’s Day weekend brings a host of events to town, highlighted by the Shaky Beats Music Festival and Sweet Auburn Festival.
The warm weather will be ideal for road construction crews, adding to weekend traffic woes.
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.
GDOT workers will also close one westbound and one eastbound lane on I-285 in DeKalb County between Panthersville and Bouldercrest roads this weekend to construct overhead signs. The closures will begin at 9 p.m. Friday and run through 2 p.m. Sunday.
