Atlanta residents should expect rain and storms this week. The National Weather Service's forecast shows a 20 percent chance of rain this afternoon with the possibility of patchy fog before 9 am and a high swirling in near a balmy 74 degrees despite a brisk southwest wind reaching up to 20 mph in gusts.

The chances of rain increase slightly tonight, hitting a 40 percent likelihood of showers and thunderstorms, residents can expect a warmer evening with lows hovering around 61 degrees and a continued gentle southwest wind, remaining light and variable as the city nestles under mostly cloudy skies. In preparation for the weekend the forecast indicates a 50 percent chance of rain again on Friday with some potential foggy conditions between the hours of 8 and 9 am which, may not deter the sun from warming up the high to a near 75 degrees, however, the west wind will continue to blow at 5 to 10 mph.

Looking ahead, Saturday boasts of a 30 percent chance of showers under mostly sunny conditions, while Sunday's odds remain the same at 30 percent, mainly before 1 pm, with expected highs teetering around the 72 to 76-degree range. Evenings will maintain a consistent pattern of partly cloudy skies and a 30 to 40 percent chance of showers, with low temperatures averaging in the low 60s, as detailed by the NWS.

Early next week continues the trend as the chance of precipitation rises notably on Monday to 40 percent followed by a soaker of a Tuesday with showers, and an 80 percent chance of rain, the persistent cloud cover will do little to quell temperatures however, with a high floating near 63 degrees, showers are likely to persist well into next Wednesday, with the added possibility of a thunderstorm and a 70 percent chance of precipitation.