Georgia – Thick morning fog settled over metro Atlanta today, slowing early commuters and holiday travelers as visibility dropped sharply along major routes. Headlights pierced through pale, hazy air before dawn, revealing damp pavement and patchy low clouds clinging to the roadways. For thousands heading out before the Thanksgiving rush, the conditions created an uneasy beginning to one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
Drivers across I-75, I-85, and I-285 faced shifting pockets of fog that varied from light haze to dense whiteouts, forcing sudden speed adjustments. With humidity high and wind nearly nonexistent, the fog held in place longer than usual, prompting forecasters to caution travelers about unpredictable visibility through mid-morning. The National Weather Service noted that visibility could fall below a quarter-mile, increasing the chance of slowdowns and minor incidents.
Weather Pattern Behind Today’s Dense Fog
Overnight cooling created a shallow layer of colder air near the ground. With plenty of leftover moisture from recent humidity and calm atmospheric conditions, the fog developed quickly and thickened before sunrise. Forecasters describe this as a classic setup for a dense fog advisory, especially in valleys and low-lying corridors surrounding Atlanta. Travelers relying on early departures were encouraged to use low beams, avoid sudden braking, and allow extra travel time.
Warm Afternoon Sets Up a Friday Shift
By midday, the fog gradually lifts as sunlight filters through and temperatures rebound into the mid-70s. This unseasonably warm air refreshes the region for the afternoon, but it also plays a key role in Friday’s approaching changes.
Weather models show a developing disturbance sliding toward Georgia late Friday, triggering scattered showers after midday. While rainfall totals appear modest, the transition from warm surface temperatures to cooler upper-level air can fuel brief heavier bands, especially during the late afternoon and evening.
Expected Impacts on Thanksgiving Travel
Friday often marks one of the biggest outbound travel days of the year. Even light rain can cause bottlenecks, but forecasters warn that narrow corridors of heavier showers may produce localized ponding, reduced visibility, and slower speeds on highways.
Travelers heading toward the Tennessee border may encounter quicker changes first, as moisture arrives earlier in northwest Georgia. Air travel could also see minor delays if cloud ceilings drop during peak activity.
Weekend Brings a Short Weather Break
Saturday offers a more favourable setup for both local plans and cross-state travel. Sunshine returns, mixing with occasional high clouds as temperatures settle in the lower 70s. Roads dry out quickly, creating an ideal window for shopping trips, outdoor decorating, or visiting family ahead of Thanksgiving week.
Sunday continues the mild stretch with highs in the lower 70s and clear skies dominating the forecast. For many Georgians, it will feel more like late September than late November.
Early Signs of Bigger Changes After Thanksgiving
While the immediate outlook remains warm and mostly pleasant, long-range projections hint at a dramatic cooldown before December. Atmospheric patterns suggest colder air spreading across parts of the central and eastern United States between November 25 and December 3. Some models even show the potential for heavier snowfall across the Midwest and Appalachians.
Atlanta remains on the warmer side of this developing trend for now, but forecasters note that sharp temperature drops could return in early December as patterns shift eastward.
Five-Day Temperature Outlook for Georgia
Forecast models highlight the following temperature trends heading into Thanksgiving week:
Fri: 77° with showers likely late
Sat: 75° with partly sunny skies
Sun: 72° and sunny
Mon: 63° with a slight chance of showers
Tue: 58° with scattered showers
Conclusion
Georgia’s Thanksgiving travel period begins with dense fog today and rain on the way Friday, creating potential slowdowns for drivers across Atlanta and beyond. The weekend offers a brief return to mild, calm conditions before the pattern becomes more unsettled heading into early December. Travelers should plan ahead, keep an eye on updated forecasts, and expect changing weather conditions as the holiday week approaches.
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