WEATHER-TRAFFIC: More scattered rain before risk of severe storms

There is another chance for some scattered storms in the forecast, but Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan said there will be plenty of sunshine mixed in, too. Rain is 40% likely Wednesday.

“Look for a mix of clouds and sunshine that will push us back up to about 80 degrees,” he said. “It’s going to be another very warm afternoon with a few showers and storms developing during the afternoon hours.”

After some early morning showers and fog, most of metro Atlanta is dry and cloudy heading into the lunch hour. The recent rain has helped wash some of the pollen out of the air. Wednesday's count of 3,102 pollen particles per cubic meter of air is a decrease of more than 1,000 from Tuesday's count, according to Atlanta Allergy and Asthma, the organization that tracks the daily pollen count.

Pollen levels remain extremely high, however. Trees like mulberry, oak, pine, willow and sycamore were the top contributors Wednesday.

Monahan said a line of strong storms will be making its way toward Georgia during the overnight hours.

Much of North Georgia will be under an increased Level 2 risk for severe weather after midnight into early Thursday morning, according to Channel 2. The main threat is strong wind gusts, and Monahan said that risk is relatively high for the region.

He expects the storms to arrive before sunrise Thursday, when rain chances rise to 60%.

“After that storm chance moves through tomorrow morning, we’ll have a cooler afternoon tomorrow in the 70s,” Monahan said.

North Georgia won’t see a big drop in temperatures until after the front clears the state Thursday. Friday is forecast to start in the low 50s and end in the low 60s, according to Channel 2.

More 60s and 70s are in the forecast for the weekend. Monahan said the next chance for storms arrives Sunday with an 80% chance of rain.

“No day over the next four is going to be a washout,” he said. “It’s going to be dry at times. Friday and Saturday actually look pretty good with a good bit of sunshine both days, although it will be cooler across North Georgia.”

Traffic remains light across metro Atlanta at midmorning, and there are no delays on any interstates, the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center reported at 10:30 a.m.

The roads should be lighter than normal throughout the day with Georgia under a stay-at-home order amid the coronavirus crisis.

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

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