WEATHER-TRAFFIC UPDATE: MARTA recovering after smoke near Midtown; roads heavily congested

ATLANTA FORECAST

Thursday: High: 72

Thursday night: Low: 54

Friday: High: 69

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

Transportation in North Georgia has been affected by many different things so far today: A shootout on the interstate in Bartow County, smoke on MARTA in Midtown and lots of construction.

A few of those incidents have cleared, allowing delays to recover, but new wrecks have continued to keep roads congested, according to the WSB-24 Hour Traffic Center.

MARTA riders are still enduring heavy delays after smoke and fire was reported on the track near the Midtown station around 4:30 p.m.

MARTA spokeswoman Stephany Fisher told AJC.com that Atlanta Fire Rescue inspected the track and said it was clear to restore power to the rails as of 4:50 p.m. At their worst, delays were about 35 minutes.

MARTA delays were more than 30 minutes earlier because of smoke and fire near Midtown. (Photo: Channel 2 Action News)

A shootout between a man and a Georgia State Patrol trooper previously blocked a right lane and exit ramp on I-75 South near Ga. 411 in Bartow County. The lane and exit ramp have since reopened, but delays linger.

RELATED: Wanted felon dead, GSP trooper out of hospital after I-75 shootout in Bartow

Road work on Ga. 316 East near Sugarloaf Parkway is causing “gross” delays back to I-85, the Traffic Center reported.

In Rockdale County, a wreck on I-20 East near Salem Road has all lanes blocked at times to clear the wreckage, the Traffic Center reported.

The Northern Perimeter isn’t faring any better with heavy delays on both the inner and outer loops, the Traffic Center reported. A northbound wreck near Washington Road is blocking a left lane, compounding congestion delays.

Meanwhile, temperatures have increased from the mid-50s this morning to the low 70s at the moment in Atlanta, according to Channel 2 Action News. Thursday has been mostly sunny but breezy.

David Abraham jogs with 1-year-old Ramsey in Midtown as the temps dipped Thursday morning.

North Georgia woke up to temperatures 7 to 14 degrees lower than they were Wednesday morning, Channel 2 meteorologist Katie Walls said.

Cooler temps are also in store for Friday morning, according to Channel 2.

“I'm tracking a cold front that'll move through this weekend and drive in the coldest temperatures we've felt since May 1,” Walls said.

Sunday and Monday could see lows in the low 40s throughout metro Atlanta, Channel 2 reported.

The five-day forecast for Atlanta.