UPDATE [5:45 p.m.]: Atlanta reached a high of 78 degrees Wednesday afternoon, tying the previous records set in 1890 and 1989.
The average high in metro Atlanta for this time of year is just 65 degrees, according to Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brad Nitz.
Farther south, the temperature in Macon reached 86 degrees, shattering its previous high for Veterans Day, he said.
Thursday and Friday are expected to be slightly cooler, however, with temperatures only reaching the mid-70s, according to the latest forecast.
ORIGINAL STORY: Settle in for what is going to be a wet Wednesday, North Georgia.
Some areas got rain overnight, while others are waking up to showers Wednesday morning. Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan said it will only get soggier as the day goes on.
“Whether it’s raining in your neighborhood or not, there’s going to be some wet pavement out there,” he said. “Pretty much all of us saw some rain through the night, and we’re going to see some rain today.”
A cold front moving into North Georgia will pull up tropical moisture from the Gulf, where Tropical Storm Eta was strengthening Wednesday morning, he said. Along that front, Monahan expects downpours to be heavy at times Wednesday.
Some of the heaviest rain could fall during the evening commute, he said. With plenty of fallen leaves on the roads, Monahan said it will be important to take extra stopping distance into account.
“You can really slide on those slick wet leaves on a morning like this,” he said. “Please be careful. Leave yourself extra time to stop.”
Eta is not likely to carve a path through Georgia, according to the latest storm track projections. It will likely travel over northern Florida, which Monahan said is good news for the weather locally.
“Once we get past these downpours today as a cold front comes through North Georgia, I’m trending a forecast that is much drier,” he said.
The rain should begin to clear up Thursday morning, he said. When it does, mostly sunny conditions move in for Friday and the weekend, according to Channel 2. Temperatures are predicted to remain above-average in the upper 70s through the end of the week.
Wet roads have contributed to multiple crashes Wednesday morning, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
“If you have the option, work from home today, because it’s going to be raining throughout the day," traffic reporter Mark Arum said. “It’s miserable out there on the roads.”
The latest interstate shut down is the I-285 outer loop. The ramp from I-75 South is blocked with a crash, the Traffic Center reported. Commuters should expect delays into Forest Park.
Earlier shutdowns on I-75 South at the I-675 interchange and on I-75 North in Jackson have cleared, according to the Traffic Center. Tough delays remain on both sides of the city.
» For a detailed forecast, visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution weather page.
» For updated traffic information, listen to News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB and follow @ajcwsbtraffic on Twitter.
» Download The Atlanta Journal-Constitution app for weather alerts on-the-go.
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