WEATHER-TRAFFIC: Sunny, clear sky officially welcomes spring

ATLANTA FORECAST

Wednesday: High: 62

Wednesday night: Low: 44

Thursday: High: 60

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

The weather is finally matching the season as it’s officially spring in Georgia. With temperatures in the low 60s and a clear, blue sky, Wednesday couldn’t feel more like springtime.

Even though the season has changed, Atlanta traffic definitely hasn't, and the slow evening commute continues, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

In DeKalb County, only one right lane of the Perimeter’s outer loop is open after a wreck near Bouldercrest Road, the Traffic Center reported. I-20 East is recommended as an alternate.

Nearby, a stall is blocking a left lane of the Perimeter’s outer loop between I-675 and Bouldercrest Road, adding to the delays, the Traffic Center reported.

Gwinnett County traffic is recovering from a wreck that blocked two lanes of Peachtree Industrial Boulevard near Jimmy Carter Boulevard in Norcross, the Traffic Center reported. The wreck has been cleared, but traffic remains slow.

Temperatures started out Wednesday in the 20s and 30s across the mountains, while metro Atlanta was a bit warmer in the low 40s. But all of North Georgia is feeling a big warmup this afternoon, according to Channel 2 Action News.

Spring officially began at 5:58 p.m.

“We stopped short of 60 (Tuesday),” Channel 2 meteorologist Brian Monahan said. “We're going above 60 this afternoon — at 62 in Atlanta, low 60s in Carrollton, and looking at some mid-60s this afternoon in Eatonton.”

Clear skies and plenty of sunshine are making for a nice day.

“This afternoon we'll pick up a few clouds as a cold front moves our way,” Monahan said. “The rain with that front is staying way to our west, so it's going to be dry for us this afternoon.”

Even with several days of dry weather, pollen counts have not exploded quite yet, he said. The count is just 24 particles per cubic meter of air Wednesday, which is in the moderate range.

The clouds will start to thicken overnight, setting the stage for a sprinkle or two on Thursday, Monahan said. There is a 20 percent chance of rain in northwest Georgia late Thursday afternoon into the evening, but he said metro Atlanta will stay mainly dry.

Temperatures will take a step back Thursday with the passing cold front, but then Monahan said North Georgia will warm up “right on cue” for the first few days of spring.

Metro Atlanta is back to average temps at a projected 66 degrees Friday, and highs Saturday are forecast in the 70s, according to Channel 2.

“I'm taking the showers out of the forecast now for Sunday,” he said. “We'll push the rain into early next week, so the weekend looks dry and warm with highs in the low 70s.”