Atlanta Sizzles In March Warmup As Weekend Storm Threat Looms

Thursday morning in the Atlanta metro started more like late April than early March, with mild, partly cloudy skies, temperatures near 59°F at the airport and low clouds slowly lifting across the south suburbs. From there, the day is set to heat up quickly. Mostly sunny skies and a high near 79°F are expected this afternoon, with light southerly breezes keeping things comfortable even as humidity begins to creep up into the evening.

Afternoon Outlook

Expect a mostly sunny, almost springlike afternoon today, with south winds around 5-10 mph and only a tiny chance of a stray shower. According to the National Weather Service, temperatures will run about 15-20 degrees above seasonal norms for the next several days, and daily record highs could be challenged later in the week. As of this morning, there are no active watches or warnings for the Atlanta metro.

Weekend Storm Chances Rise

Showers and scattered thunderstorms are expected to return Friday, March 6, with the timing most likely from the afternoon into the evening. Rain chances then ramp up as the weekend rolls on. That tracks with our earlier soupy fog to springlike heat outlook, which has rain odds climbing from roughly 40% on Friday to about 50% on Saturday and 60-70% by Sunday night, when steadier rain and embedded storms are most likely. Forecasters still see widespread severe weather as unlikely, but a few stronger storms could flare up with brief heavy downpours and frequent lightning.

Plan Ahead

If you have outdoor plans from Friday through Sunday, build in a rain backup and be ready for quick pauses when heavier showers or lightning pass through. Nighttime lows will stay warm and muggy, generally in the low 60s, so evenings will feel sticky rather than cool. Keep an eye on local forecasts and radar before you head out, since conditions can flip fast once those storms start moving in.