The city of Atlanta is bracing for a series of inclement weather conditions, starting with showers in the afternoon and leading up to freezing rain by nighttime. According to the extended weather forecast on the National Weather Service, there's a 40 percent chance of rain after 3 p.m. today, with temperatures hovering around a cool 44 degrees. Winds from the east could reach 15 mph, with the potential for gusts up to 25 mph.
Tonight, Atlanta residents can expect showers before 1 a.m., followed by freezing rain, as temperatures dip to a low around 31 degrees. The east wind around 15 mph, gusting as high as 25 mph, is not expected to relent, carrying the chill deeper into the bones of the city. "Chance of precipitation is 100%," the NWS forecast warns, suggesting an inevitability in the impending freeze.
Continuing into Sunday, the icy conditions are slated to shift back to rain showers after a freezing morning, bringing with it a possibility of thunder. Some thunder is also possible, states the forecast, underscoring the unpredictability that has come to define Atlanta's weather of late. Such adverse conditions threaten to complicate the daily commute, with a high near 43 degrees doing little to alleviate concerns.
Sunday night, the risks of showers coupled with thunderstorms before 7 p.m. loom over the city, and though they're expected to taper off between showers likely between 7 p.m. and 1 a.m., residents should remain vigilant. With a 60% chance of precipitation and lows dipping to around 23 degrees, the following day promises some respite with a forecast of mostly sunny skies and highs climbing to 33 degrees.
In an unforgiving rhythm, as if marching to the beat of wintertime drums, the week ahead continues with clear skies Monday night, ushering in lows around 12 degrees. The forecast, seemingly offering a brief interlude of stability, predicts sunny days with highs in the upper 30s through Tuesday, followed by chilly nights with temperatures sinking to the low 20s.
Atlantans should prepare for the mercurial moods of winter, maintaining both umbrella and coat within arm's reach. Mostly sunny is the expected condition on Wednesday, with highs modestly rising to near 41 degrees and a persistent pattern of clear nights as the week progresses. ThursdaySunny,briefly concludes the forecast, as the day looks to usher in a high near 36 degrees, inviting a sliver of warmth before nightfall once again claims the city in its cold embrace.
