WEATHER-TRAFFIC UPDATE: Heat tops expectations as evening commute congestion mounts

ATLANTA FORECAST 

Wednesday: High: 91

Wednesday night: Low: 73

Thursday: High: 88

» For a detailed forecast, visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution weather page.

The temperature has reached 92 degrees, just one degree warmer than predictions. And with the heat index in the upper-90s, it’s sweltering outside this afternoon.

This is happening as Atlanta traffic begins picking up for the evening commute, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

Two wrecks on the Downtown Connector are stifling traffic. Two southbound left lanes are blocked near North Avenue, and one I-85 South lane at the I-75 ramp is blocked, the Traffic Center reported.

Construction crews were working along the I-285 Inner Loop at the ramp to I-75 North and on I-75 North at Wade Green Road in Cobb County earlier today, and delays still linger.

A cold front is moving through metro Atlanta Wednesday, and while that means most of the northern suburbs will stay dry, don’t expect to get a break in heat and humidity, Channel 2 Action News reported.

“We have this front to thank for that slightly drier air that’s moving in,” Channel 2 meteorologist Karen Minton said. “This will continue to press a little bit more into the south today, so along this line of I-20 and southward, that’s where you’re going to see the main focus for showers and some storms today.”

Still, the rain chance is just 30 percent, according to Channel 2.

An area of low pressure is expected to develop along the cold front, which will pull moisture back into North Georgia Thursday, Minton said.

“That will increase our chances of showers,” she said.

The chance of rain only goes up from there, reaching 40 percent Friday and 70 percent Saturday, according to the latest forecast from Channel 2. The best opportunity for strong storms this week is Friday night into Saturday morning, and they could turn severe, Minton said.

The onset of storms should lower temperatures a few degrees into the upper 80s by the weekend.

“(The) latest data shows cooler than average temperatures for North Georgia through the end of the month,” Minton said. “Combination of clouds and better-than-average chance of showers should keep temperatures down slightly.”