Thanksgiving weather: Colder air moving in, warming centers opening
Wednesday morning weather forecast
Cooler high temps on Wednesday with highs only in the 60s. Temps will drop into the 30s overnight. Early risers are encountering dense fog in some areas.
ATLANTA - Metro Atlanta is drying out just in time for Thanksgiving after a soaking rain pushed through the region overnight. The final bands of rain cleared the viewing area just before dawn Wednesday, leaving behind more than an inch of rainfall in many spots.
The system delivered much-needed moisture to drought-stricken areas, especially across Troup and Heard counties in Georgia and Randolph County in Alabama. Southern and eastern counties saw lighter totals, but meteorologists say the widespread rain will still help ease ongoing drought conditions.
The saturated ground also contributed to areas of fog Wednesday morning. A dense fog advisory was issued for parts of east Alabama, including Randolph and Cleburne counties, where visibility dropped significantly. Patchy fog also developed in Central Georgia, the North Georgia mountains and isolated pockets across the Atlanta metro.
Temperatures were in the upper 50s early Wednesday with clouds and fog lingering. Winds are expected to pick up through the morning, helping to clear skies but keeping temperatures cool. Highs will stay in the low 60s, close to seasonal averages and well below the record-warm afternoons the region has seen recently.
Conditions will turn even cooler for Thanksgiving Day. Lows will drop into the 30s Wednesday night, and highs Thursday will only reach the low 50s under sunny skies.
Today (Wed):
Clouds and fog early, then clearing. Breezy. High near 62.
🌫️➡️🌤️💨
Tonight:
Clear and colder. Low 30s.
❄️🌙
Thanksgiving Day (Thu):
Sunny but unseasonably cool. High 53.
☀️🦃🥶
Black Friday:
Dry and chilly. High 49–52.
🌤️🛍️
Weekend:
Dry through Saturday. Rain returns Sunday.
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Warming Centers Open
Warming centers will be open in DeKalb County beginning at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (Nov. 26-28) for those who need them.
Black Friday and Saturday are expected to stay dry before another weather system approaches late in the weekend. They can be found at:
• Frontline Response International, 2585 Gresham Rd SE, Atlanta
• St. Vincent de Paul, 2050-C Chamblee Tucker Rd, Chamblee
• Mason Mill Recreation Center, 1340 McConnell Dr, Decatur
• Exchange Park Intergenerational Center, 2771 Columbia Dr, Decatur
Warming centers are also opening in the City of Atlanta at:
- Thursday, Nov. 27, at 8 p.m. – Nov. 28 at 9 a.m.
- Friday, Nov. 28, at 8 p.m. – Nov. 29 at 9 a.m.
The first warming center will open at Central Park Recreation Center at 400 Merritts Ave. NE, Atlanta 30308. The second warming center will open at Old Adamsville Recreation Center at 3404 Delmar Ln NW, Atlanta, GA 30331. Transportation will be provided nightly at 8:00 p.m. from the Gateway Center with return transportation provided by Fulton County from the Gateway Center upon deactivation. Activation times are subject to change based on the updated National Weather Service forecast.
A warming center in Gilmer County will open at 5 p.m. Nov. 27 and Nov. 28 at the Gilmer County Civic Center at 1561 S. Main Street in Ellijay. Doors will open at 5pm (enter on the left through the doors by the courts) and close the next morning at 7am. You must arrive by 9pm and lights are out at 10pm. Dinner and breakfast offered. Pets are welcome and will be fed and kenneled on arrival. For more information contact Rachel Tarr (770/316-4934) or Jackie Watson (404/909-3275).
Rain is not expected to return until Sunday.