Atlanta is waking up in a haze Saturday, with fog, mist and muggy air setting the stage for a stormy stretch that could gum up traffic through Memorial Day. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to fire up later today and linger straight through the holiday, so drivers and anyone banking on sunshine should have a Plan B ready.
Morning Fog And Muggy Start
Early observations show pockets of reduced visibility around the metro, with Peachtree City and Hartsfield‑Jackson both reporting mist and temperatures right around 69 to 70°F. Humidity is running high, and some neighborhoods could stay foggy into mid-morning.
If you are heading out early, use headlights in low-visibility areas and give yourself extra stopping distance. The fog is patchy, so conditions can change quickly from one stretch of road to the next.
Afternoon And Evening Storms
Once the fog lifts, the atmosphere will be ready to go. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop by late morning and carry into the afternoon, with highs near 80°F.
The busiest window looks to be from midday through the evening commute. Storm cells may bring brief heavy downpours, frequent lightning and gusty winds. If storms repeatedly track over the same neighborhoods, localized street flooding is possible and pockets of standing water could make already slow traffic even more of a slog.
Holiday Weekend Outlook
Storm chances do not clock out after Saturday. Showers and thunderstorms are forecast to continue through Monday, Memorial Day (Monday, May 25), with a continued risk of locally heavy rainfall and isolated flash flooding in low‑lying spots.
The National Weather Service is calling for rainfall totals of about 0.5 to 1.5 inches across central Georgia and 1 to 3 inches across north Georgia, with locally higher amounts where storms keep redeveloping over the same area.
We covered this developing pattern earlier in the week; see our storm-train update from May 21 for background and planning tips. Outdoor Memorial Day plans should include a wet‑weather backup and flexible timing.
Impacts And Safety Tips
When thunder roars, go indoors, since lightning is the main immediate hazard and can strike outside the heaviest rain. Avoid driving through flooded streets: "turn around, don't drown." Secure lightweight outdoor items before storms roll in so they do not become projectiles in gusty winds.
If you have outdoor events on the calendar, pick an indoor option in advance and keep your phone charged so you can receive any weather warnings or notices about school and road impacts.
