Atlanta is waking up to a cloudy, soupy start this Saturday, April 4, with temperatures hovering near 66°F and dew points in the low 60s that make the air feel downright sticky. The atmosphere heats up from there, with highs expected to reach around 82°F before a cold front swings through and organizes showers and thunderstorms late tonight into early Sunday.
Afternoon Heat and Scattered Storms
Skies turn partly sunny this afternoon, which will be enough to shove temperatures into the low 80s. A light south breeze around 5 to 10 mph could occasionally gust near 20 mph in more exposed spots. Scattered showers and thunderstorms may pop up later in the day, and any storm that forms could bring a quick burst of heavy rain or a few gusty winds that might catch outdoor plans by surprise. New rainfall totals of about one tenth to one quarter of an inch are possible, according to the National Weather Service Peachtree City.
Overnight Line Could Bring Strong Gusts
The real action arrives late Saturday night into the early hours of Sunday, April 5, as a cold front presses through the region. A more organized line of showers and thunderstorms is expected to roll in around midnight and push through during the pre-dawn commute, roughly from midnight to 3 a.m. That line could pack stronger wind gusts, with the main concern initially being damaging winds as storms cross over from Alabama. Most of the metro is in line to pick up about 0.5 to 0.75 inches of rain, with a few isolated spots likely to top 1 inch. For more on how the weekend set up, see storms crash the Atlanta weekend.
Sunday Into Next Week
Behind the front, Sunday trends mostly cloudy with a cooler high near 71°F as drier air filters in. Some showers may hang on through the morning before gradually tapering off. Sunday night into Monday turns noticeably cooler, with lows dipping into the upper 40s, then Monday bounces back to mostly sunny skies and highs in the low 70s. Forecasters are also keeping an eye on a short stretch of drier, breezy weather early next week that could bring elevated fire-weather concerns for the driest areas.
What to Do Now
If you have outdoor plans this afternoon, keep a rain backup in mind and assume the evening drive could feature wet roads. Gusty winds may be enough to knock down small branches or send loose patio furniture skittering, so secure anything that might blow around. Stay tuned to radar or weather apps and be ready to head indoors quickly if storms build, and steer clear of standing water on roads during and after heavier downpours.
