Friday began with another round of temperatures in the teens and low 20s that refroze pavement left wet by thawing snow and ice, but forecasters were promising temps in the 50s by the afternoon.
While much of the metro interstate system was ice-free, there were icy patches on some interstates, and many side streets were still treacherous in spots.
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The most significant interstate icing was on I-20 west of Atlanta.
On the top-end Perimeter, authorities closed the ramp from I-285 eastbound to the Glenridge Connector because of icing.
Ice was also an issue late Friday morning on the Downtown Connector southbound ramp to Spring Street.
Other icy spots reported early Friday by the Georgia Department of Transportation included Ga. 92 near the Fulton/Douglas county line and Ga. 6 at Elliott Road in Cobb County, where police blocked all lanes because of icing.
MARTA planned to return to a normal weekday schedule Friday, with all bus routes operating from 4 a.m. until 2 a.m. Saturday and trains running on a modified schedule beginning at 5 a.m.
“Average wait times for train arrivals will range from 10 to 30 minutes throughout the service day,” MARTA spokesman Lyle Harris said. “Customers are being asked to exercise patience and allow extra time for their trips.”
Temperatures before daybreak included 16 in Peachtree City, 17 in Alpharetta and 19 in Chamblee and Marietta. By late morning, the mercury had climbed into the mid-30s across metro Atlanta, and by noon, temperatures were in the mid-40s.
Severe Weather Team 2 meteorologist Karen Minton predicted a high Friday of 53 degrees, under clear skies.
“Those clear skies will allow that sunshine to do some work on those frozen streets out there,” Minton said.
The big warm-up will continue into the weekend, along with a chance of rain, Minton said.
She said highs will be around 55 Saturday and 64 Sunday, with morning lows of 34 Saturday and 47 Sunday.
A 20 percent chance of rain Saturday will increase to 60 percent Sunday, Minton said.
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