Atlanta hit a record-high temperature Tuesday, and it’s inching closer and closer to doing it again Wednesday.
The city has reached 95 degrees, which is one degree shy of the record set in 2010, Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Katie Walls said. Thursday’s record is also expected to be in play.
“Let’s just say September ended right now, based on just how hot it’s been in 11 days, it would go down as the hottest September on record,” Walls said.
Atlanta’s heatwave is adding to what’s been a hot year overall. The city has broken 90 degrees 74 times so far in 2019, according to Channel 2.
Traffic isn't nearly as hot as the weather outside, but there are some active spots, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
Hollowell Parkway is closed near West Lake Avenue after a car collided with a van that was parked at an American Deli, Channel 2 reported.
All lanes of I-85 South were briefly held to clear a crash before Flat Shoals Road, causing delays back to I-285, according to the Traffic Center.
In DeKalb County, a crash is blocking Scott Boulevard at Willow Lane in both directions, stifling surface streets nearby, the Traffic Center reported.
As hot as it has been, many are hoping for rain to quell Atlanta’s heat. There’s a 20% chance of rain for metro Atlanta, but the showers are staying near Rabun County and the North Georgia mountains so far, Channel 2 reported.
A few isolated showers could drift into the Northside by sunset, but most will get through the day completely dry.
Another round of thunderstorms like those that moved through metro Atlanta on Tuesday is not likely, he said. The storms prompted severe weather warnings, forced a ground stop at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and downed trees and power lines.
That lack of rain means it isn’t humid, which is a small consolation, Walls said.
“Thankfully, the low humidity is not contributing to a sweltering heat index. Nonetheless, no matter how you cut it, it’s hot,” she said.
Channel 2 meteorologist Brian Monahan said next week should bring a much wetter weather pattern, which will help to drive down temperatures. With moderate drought conditions across the Southside, the region could use some rain, he said.
Tropical moisture returns by the weekend as rain chances go up, according to Channel 2. One tropical wave northeast of Cuba could swing toward the Southeast, bringing North Georgia “a good shot of rain,” Monahan said.
“This tropical moisture starts to move in, and there’s a better chance of rain Sunday,” he said. “By Monday, I see a much wetter weather pattern across North Georgia as we start to turn on the rainfall across the area.”
The rain chances remain low through Thursday and turn more isolated Friday and Saturday before more scattered storms move in Sunday, according to the latest forecast.
“We'll also plan on some cooler temperatures,” Monahan said. “We'll come out of the 90s and back down to the 80s.”
» For a detailed forecast, visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution weather page.
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