North Georgia is making a return to sunshine and warmer weather Thursday.
The state has spent much of the week oscillating between wet and dry conditions, and Thursday falls on the dry side, according to Channel 2 Action News. More rain is in the forecast Friday, but Channel 2 meteorologist Brian Monahan said there will be no signs of the impending showers until well after dark.
“We're going to have plenty of sunshine,” he said. “It takes us into the mid-50s for highs. It’s going to be a nice afternoon.”
For now, most of North Georgia is starting the day chilly. Metro Atlanta is in the 40s, but the rest of the region is in the 30s, according to Channel 2. Areas on the Southside are the coldest with numbers near freezing.
Some patchy fog is possible for the morning drive, Monahan said.
With only light fog conditions, he said visibility is still pretty decent.
“So far, I’m not seeing anything very thick, not seeing anything very widespread,” he said.
The fog should stick around through 8 a.m., but by 10 a.m. all of North Georgia will be in the 40s, according to Channel 2. Atlanta temperatures are expected to rise quickly through lunchtime and the early afternoon, reaching a projected high of 56 degrees by 4 p.m.
The sun will shine pretty much all the way through the day Thursday, Monahan said.
“No weather problems,” he said. “If you've got plans, things to do for your Thursday night, we'll have a mostly clear sky. But we will not be mostly clear by tomorrow morning. Clouds will thicken up while you are sleeping, especially from Atlanta, south and east.”
Those clouds will be the first indication of the next round of rain. Friday’s chance of showers is 60%, according to Channel 2.
Like on Wednesday, Monahan said the weather system will track to the south, keeping the heaviest rain out of North Georgia.
“Into Friday afternoon, there will be the opportunity for some rain,” he said. “That’s especially going to be roughly along I-20 and down through the Southside.”
Friday will also bring much cooler weather. Temperatures are not expected to get out of the 40s, according to the latest forecast. A warmup is in store for the weekend, however.
By Sunday, Monahan said temperatures will return to the 60s. It won’t feel like the first week of February next week, he said. A few spots could be in the low 70s.
February is also looking pretty wet.
“Really, after one of the wetter Januarys on record ... February looks to pick up right where January left off,” Monahan said on Twitter.
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The northwest suburbs have already seen their share of problems for the Thursday morning drive.
The biggest jam at 6 a.m. is on I-75 North heading toward Lake Allatoona, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center. A car carrier hauling at least seven vehicles went into the woods before Old Allatoona Road in Bartow County, scattering its cargo on the interstate.
All lanes have been blocked at times while authorities continue cleanup, the Traffic Center reported. Outbound commuters can use U.S. 41 as an alternate.
Another incident is causing trouble in the southbound lanes through Cobb County. A tractor-trailer crash has the exit ramp to Wade Green Road shut down, according to the Traffic Center. Chastain Road is the next best exit from I-75 South, the Traffic Center reported.
» 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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