Atlanta is finally getting in on the sunshine and blue sky Friday, only for the view to be obstructed by haze.
Smoke from the western wildfires is filtering into North Georgia on the heels of cold front, according to Channel 2 Action News. The front wiped out much of the humidity and lowered rain chances to 20% Friday, but it also cleared the way for the smoke and haze to settle over the region.
“As we go into this afternoon, that smoke is going to be drifting down into our sky here in North Georgia,” Channel 2 meteorologist Brian Monahan said. “Reduced visibility, a smoky smell is possible. If you have asthma, allergies, breathing difficulties, you want to limit your time outside over the next couple of days.”
With the limited rain chances, Friday will be a hot one. Monahan expects the city to top out at 91 degrees after lunchtime. Temperatures are in the mid-70s to begin the day.
Rain chances are best with the heating of the afternoon, Monahan said. Only isolated showers are in the forecast Friday, he said.
That 20% chance of afternoon showers and storms carries through to the weekend. Both Saturday and Sunday should be partly cloudy but mostly dry, according to the latest forecast.
One benefit of the added haze is spectacular sunrises and sunsets, Monahan said. The western smoke will scatter out the blue light, leaving behind “that red and orange glow,” he said.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
The WSB 24-hour Traffic Center is advising Westside commuters to avoid I-285 after a crash Friday morning shut down the northbound lanes in Vinings.
The inner loop has been closed at the Cobb Parkway exit since before 5 a.m., and traffic reporter Mark McKay said he sees “no indication that they are wrapping up any time soon.”
Details about the crash have not been released. As of 6:30 a.m., the cars involved in the wreck have not been moved from the interstate, indicating a prolonged investigation is underway, according to the Traffic Center.
While northbound delays are building, the shutdown is not impacting traffic flowing south, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center. The Traffic Center suggests drivers avoid the Perimeter and take the Downtown Connector to I-75.
» For a detailed forecast, visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution weather page.
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