Atlanta weather today is starting mild at 82°F, but don’t let the morning calm fool you—the National Weather Service is warning of multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms moving through the metro from this afternoon through Thursday morning, with several storms capable of producing damaging winds, large hail, and even a few tornadoes.
Today’s Setup
A warm, moist airmass is streaming in from the southwest ahead of a cold front that’s pushing southeast from Tennessee and Kentucky. Isolated storms may pop up across North Georgia this afternoon around 2 PM, but the real action begins tonight. Confidence is low for daytime storms, but once the sun sets, conditions will become increasingly unstable. Wind gusts could reach 25 mph, so secure any loose items around your Buckhead, Midtown, or Piedmont Park neighborhood.
Severe Weather & Flooding Risk
The Storm Prediction Center has placed most of North and Central Georgia—including the Atlanta metro—under a Slight Risk (Level 2 of 5) for severe weather. The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch from late Wednesday through Thursday morning for portions of North and Central Georgia. Widespread rainfall of 1 to 2 inches is expected, with localized amounts potentially exceeding 4 inches. Poor drainage areas and flood-prone neighborhoods should expect water pooling on streets and in yards. If you live near creeks or in areas prone to standing water, monitor conditions closely tonight and early Thursday.
What To Wear & Bring
Pack a compact travel umbrella and grab a packable rain jacket before heading out. The afternoon high of 82°F will feel muggy with that southwest wind. If you’re heading downtown to catch Yellowcard: The Up Up Down Down Tour at the Coca-Cola Roxy tonight, plan to arrive early and bring rain gear—the venue is indoors, but getting there will be wet. For outdoor plans, consider rescheduling or moving activities indoors until Thursday afternoon.
Tonight & Thursday Morning
Expect showers and thunderstorms to intensify after 9 PM, with a 98% chance of precipitation and new rainfall of 1 to 2 inches possible. Some storms could produce heavy rain, so stay weather-aware. By Thursday morning around 10 AM, activity should taper off, though a slight chance of showers lingers through 11 AM. Thursday’s high will be cooler at 76°F.
Looking Ahead
Thursday night clears out completely with lows around 55°F—perfect sleeping weather. Friday and the weekend will warm into the low 80s with sunshine returning. If you’re planning to tailgate before Atlanta United FC vs. LA Galaxy on Saturday, May 9th at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, conditions will be excellent. Grab an Atlanta United FC scarf or Atlanta United FC jersey to show your support, and snag Get tickets on SeatGeek while you’re at it.
Dinner & Prep Idea
With storms expected tonight, this is the perfect evening for comfort food. A slow cooker chili or hearty beef stew will keep you warm while the rain pounds down. A programmable slow cooker or enameled cast iron Dutch oven makes prep easy—just set it this morning and dinner’s ready by evening. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door.
Stay safe out there, and keep an eye on local alerts through Thursday morning.
