The forecast
Today: Scattered storms. High: 92
Tonight: Mostly cloudy. Thunderstorms likely. Low: 76
Tomorrow: Fewer storms. High: 91
» For a detailed forecast, visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution weather page.
10:13 p.m.: Temperatures were 80 degrees in Atlanta, 76 degrees in Griffin and 76 degrees in Blairsville. Temperatures are expected to stay in the mid 70s overnight.
7:52 p.m.: Rain moves out of the area, the Atlanta Braves set a 8:25 p.m. start time for tonight's game.
7:17 p.m.: Metro area storms expected to move out over the next hour, with expected storm development in Douglas, Carroll and Heard counties.
6:45 p.m.: Thunderstorms and heavy rain in the metro area may delay tonight's Braves game. Check the Atlanta Braves Twitter for start time information.
6:20 p.m.: Rain-cooled air spreading out from thunderstorms bordering the metro area are starting to intersect, bringing storms to the area. Storms are developing over Buckhead, meterorologist Brad Nitz said.
5:35 p.m.: Temperatures were 83 degrees in Atlanta, 87 degrees in Griffin and 82 degrees in Blairsville.
UPDATED 4:40 p.m.: Storms are developing in the south metro area, continuing to the north. Scattered rain showers and possible thunderstorms are expected in Atlanta later this evening.
ORIGINAL STORY: Metro Atlanta can expect pockets of heavy downpours during the ride home from work and school Thursday.
The heat has triggered thunderstorms, and pea-sized hail and lightning was seen in the Kingston area shortly after 4 p.m., Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brad Nitz said.
More stormy weather was developing in northern Georgia, near Calhoun and Blairsville. Those storms are expected to head toward the metro area, Nitz said.
Downpours had already hit Villa Rica and areas to the south of Villa Rica by 1 p.m., according to Channel 2.
The brunt of the heavy rain, however, will affect north Georgia.
South Forsyth and Buford city schools opened for the first day of the academic year in the thick of pounding rain. Nearly 2 inches fell by 7:15 a.m. from Buford to Cumming, meteorologists said.
A flash flood watch will last through 8 a.m. Friday in Elbert, Franklin, Habersham, Hart, Rabun and Stephens counties.
In Atlanta, only a few spots picked up light rain before 2 p.m.
“So through the evening commute tonight, not everyone’s seeing the rain,” meteorologist Brian Monahan said.
But by about 6 p.m., heavy downpours, gusty winds and lightning will have picked up in some metro areas.
“Downpours are (the) biggest issue with showers and storms that develop today,” Monahan said.
Showers will continue through the evening, though becoming more isolated. They are expected to last through 11 p.m. in and near metro Atlanta.
There is a 40 percent rain chance Friday, with more rain in the south metro; a 30 percent chance Saturday; and a 40 percent chance Sunday.
The wet weather, however, won’t chill temperatures. Highs will stay in the low 90s through Sunday.
Temps were 91 degrees in Atlanta and 90 in Griffin and 86 in Blairsville just after 4 p.m.
» For updated traffic information, listen to News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB and follow @ajcwsbtraffic on Twitter.
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