Despite a chilly start, North Georgia is headed for a springlike Wednesday afternoon.
The region will see temperatures more typical of early March than early January, Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan said. Under lots of sunshine, some spots could be in for a 30-degree warmup later today.
“It’s going to be a clear sky, it’s going to be clear through the middle of the day and it’s going to be clear into the afternoon,” Monahan said. “We're looking great all the way through your Wednesday.”
While the afternoon will be warmer than the day before with highs in the low 60s, the morning is starting out much colder.
The mountains are beginning the day near freezing, and metro Atlanta is in the upper 30s. Temperatures on average are running 10 to 15 degrees lower than Tuesday morning, according to Channel 2.
North Georgia will be slow to warm up, Monahan said. He expects to see temperatures in the 30s through 9 a.m., but things will change once the sun gets higher in the sky. By the early afternoon, most of North Georgia should be in the low 50s.
Atlanta is expected to hit a high of 61 degrees before the start of the evening commute, according to Channel 2.
No rain is in the forecast Wednesday, and Thursday should see more of the same.
“Whatever you've got planned outside or traveling about across North Georgia, you'll have no weather problems,” Monahan said. “Friday, though, that starts to change.”
He said showers will begin to move into North Georgia Friday afternoon ahead of a strong cold front approaching the state Saturday morning. The front will bring the risk for heavy rain and strong storms Saturday afternoon.
Some areas could get more than 2 inches of accumulation by Sunday morning as heavy rain spreads across the area, Monahan said. The chance for strong wind gusts and the potential for an isolated, brief spinup tornado is highest for Atlanta and areas to the west, he said.
“As that rain comes in, we’re really warming up,” Monahan said. “From the low 60s today and tomorrow (to) near 70 by Saturday.”
Sandy Springs commuters may want to avoid I-285 as the Wednesday morning commute kicks off. The inner loop of the Perimeter was shut down for more than 50 minutes while authorities worked to clear a crash at Roswell Road, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
All lanes reopened just before 6 a.m., but “sizeable delays remain on the inner loop,” traffic reporter Mark Arum said. Commuters out of Cobb County may still want to take I-75 South to I-85 North and Ga. 400 North, he said.
There are about 15 minutes of extra delays on the eastbound ride from Riverside Drive to Roswell Road, according to the Traffic Center.
» For a detailed forecast, visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution weather page.
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