Atlanta woke up to clear skies and about 70°F Sunday, but the calm start will not last long. The city heats up quickly into the upper 80s this afternoon, and while most neighborhoods stay dry through midday, scattered thunderstorms are expected later in the day. A few of those afternoon cells could turn strong to severe, with damaging wind and hail in the mix, so it is smart to have an indoor backup if your plans are outside.
Afternoon Storm Risk
The main window for storms runs from Sunday afternoon into the early evening, with the best odds after about 2 p.m. and roughly a 40% chance in and around the city. According to the National Weather Service, the primary concerns are damaging wind and hail. The strongest cells could kick up localized gusts well above the usual afternoon breeze and produce nickel- to quarter-sized hail. Brief downpours may temporarily knock down visibility and lead to minor ponding on streets.
Timing And Commute Impacts
Expect plenty of sunshine through late morning, with scattered storms bubbling up between about 2 p.m. and sunset, then fading after dark. Southeast winds are forecast around 5 to 10 mph, with gusts commonly near 20 mph. Any severe storm that develops could send much stronger gusts through your block, strong enough to snap small limbs or toss around unsecured patio furniture. If you rely on transit, build in a little extra time and check MARTA service updates before you head out.
Late Week Outlook
Warm, humid air sticks around into early next week, with highs holding in the upper 80s and only a low rain chance on Monday. Rain and thunderstorm odds ramp back up by mid to late week, with higher chances Thursday and Friday as a slow-moving front stalls nearby. For updated timing and any watches or warnings, keep an eye on the National Weather Service.
Update
This story updates our Saturday forecast. For more context on how we got here, see our earlier coverage on how sunny Atlanta sizzles ahead of these storms. Forecasters have now tweaked their wording to highlight a marginal severe threat Sunday afternoon, so be ready to shift plans indoors if storms start firing over your neighborhood.
