Atlanta woke up Wednesday (May 20) to clear skies and low-70s warmth, with Hartsfield-Jackson starting the day around 72°F. By mid to late afternoon, the city is expected to climb into the upper 80s, topping out near 89°F, with building humidity setting the stage for scattered thunderstorms.
What To Expect This Afternoon
After about 2 p.m., showers and thunderstorms may start to bubble up, with spotty activity lingering into the evening. Any storm that does develop could bring brief heavy downpours, frequent lightning, and gusty winds. The overall risk for severe weather remains low, but a few stronger cells cannot be ruled out.
Where Storms Are Most Likely
The best setup for pop-up storms sits along and north of the I-85 corridor, according to the National Weather Service office in Peachtree City, which pegs the metro area at roughly a 30% chance of storms this afternoon. Most activity should wind down after sunset, with new rainfall totals generally in the tenth- to quarter-inch range for spots that get hit before things quiet down tonight.
Weekend Outlook
Rain chances ramp up Thursday and stay elevated through the holiday weekend, including Memorial Day (Monday, May 25). Showers and thunderstorms are likely at times, with pockets of locally heavy rain possible as this unsettled pattern hangs around. For earlier context on how this setup developed, revisit our Sunday storms muscling in coverage.
Plan Ahead
If you have outdoor plans, keep a rain backup ready and build in extra travel time during the late afternoon and evening in case storms flare up. Make sure phones are charged for weather alerts, watch for brief localized street flooding during heavier downpours, and keep an eye on transit updates if you depend on buses or MARTA.
