Temperatures near 90 degrees arrive in Atlanta ahead of Memorial Day

ATLANTA, Ga. — A summer heat wave will blanket the Atlanta area this week before a chance of rain and thunderstorms casts a cloud over Memorial Day celebrations, according to the latest forecast.

This week, high temperatures will gradually climb to 90 degrees as Atlanta residents prepare for the holiday weekend, the National Weather Service said Tuesday.

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Wednesday’s high will be 87 degrees — and the mercury will continue to rise throughout the week, reaching around 90 degrees on Friday and staying there through the weekend, forecasters said. Residents can also expect mostly clear to partly cloudy skies Tuesday through Saturday.

However, by Friday, the summer weather could give way to a few showers and thunderstorms, with rain chances increasing from Saturday into Monday, forecasters said.

The risk of severe weather is greater in parts of northern Georgia, according to the NWS.

Here is the National Weather Service’s full forecast through Monday evening:

Tuesday evening: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Wednesday evening: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

THURSDAY: Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

Thursday evening: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.

Friday: 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.

Friday night: 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.

SATURDAY: 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.

Saturday night: 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.

Sunday: 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.

Sunday night: 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.

Remembrance Day: 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.