Hail was reported across parts of metro Atlanta as the region came under a severe thunderstorm watch that lasted through 10 p.m. Saturday. Storms were moving quickly through the area, with strong winds and downpours reported.
Among counties included in the watch were Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton and Gwinnett.
The National Weather Service also had reported a severe thunderstorm warning for Clayton, Coweta, DeKalb, Fayette, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Rockdale, Spalding and Walton counties until 9:15 p.m.
An NWS report indicated Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport recorded a 76 mph wind gust as storms moved through metro Atlanta on Saturday evening.
The Braves’ game Saturday against the Diamondbacks was postponed because of inclement weather, the team announced around an hour before the scheduled first pitch. The teams are set to play a traditional doubleheader Sunday. A tweet from Truist Park showed hail on the ballfield.
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As has been predicted all week, Saturday’s forecast calls for rain and thunderstorms throughout the entire day.
A warm front rising from the Gulf of Mexico will bring plenty of weather with it, including heavy, soaking rain, Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brad Nitz said.
“As we start the day Saturday morning, we’ll have widespread rain, some embedded rumbles of thunder throughout the metro area,” Nitz said.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
A break in the rain is predicted in the early afternoon but could be followed by even heavier rain and the possibility for severe storms.
“These storms that come Saturday afternoon and evening, those are going to have the greater risk of strong and severe weather,” Nitz said. Better weather is on the horizon, though. “We’ll dry out for the second half of the weekend,” Nitz said.
Sunday is predicted to be much nicer, with a high temperature of 73 degrees and mostly sunny weather. After the weekend, the weather will warm steadily throughout the workweek, with temperatures hitting the 80s by midweek.
Traffic could be a problem this weekend between the weather, more lane closures than usual and an Atlanta Braves homestand at Truist Park. The Braves will play at 7:20 p.m. Saturday, weather permitting, so expect increased traffic on I-285, I-75 and surface streets around the ballpark.
Lane closures and traffic pacing will continue as usual over the weekend for the Transform 285/400 project, but there are multiple other projects that could also affect traffic. There will be overnight lane closures at Banberry Road and I-75 over the weekend, the Georgia Department of Transportation said. On the southeast side of town, there will be daytime lane closures around the junction of I-75 and I-285 in Clayton County. Weekend work will also continue on Turner Hill Road and Covington Highway in DeKalb County for concrete repair, the DOT said.
» For a detailed forecast, visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution weather page.
» For updated traffic information, listen to News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB and follow @ajcwsbtraffic on Twitter.
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