WEATHER-TRAFFIC UPDATE: Car fire, Taylor Swift fans contribute to congested evening commute

ATLANTA FORECAST 

Friday: High: 88

Friday night: Low: 72

Saturday: High: 87

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

Congestion is mounting on the Downtown Connector and Northern Perimeter as a few storms are popping up in the southwest metro Atlanta area during today’s evening commute, according to Channel 2 Action News.

Earlier wrecks on the Connector have been cleared, but delays still remain, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

A car fire in DeKalb County has shut down the I-285 North exit ramp to Pleasantdale Road, the Traffic Center reported.

As always, red means slow, and there’s a lot of red on the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center map as of 5:15 p.m. Friday.

Congestion and rain are both expected to increase as the evening commute continues.

Downtown might get extra crowded tonight as fans head to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the Taylor Swift concert. Gates opened at 5 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m.

RELATED: Taylor Swift at Mercedes-Benz Stadium: Parking, tickets, food and more

When the storms come, damaging winds, lightning and hail could accompany them.

Lightning during Thursday’s storms led to fires at an apartment and a home in Gwinnett County and damage to a treehouse in Haralson County.

Lightning struck a treehouse in Haralson County on Thursday. (Photo: Eddy Mullins)

But relief is in sight, according to Channel 2.

A Bermuda high is expected to enter the region overnight and bring in drier air, Channel 2 meteorologist Karen Minton said.

“That’s going to push some of this moisture out of the area and keep most of the energy to (far North Georgia) so that we’ll dry out for the next few days,” she said.

Rain chances dip to 30 percent this weekend, but it’s expected to go up slightly to 40 percent Monday, Channel 2 reported. Temperatures will also near the 90s.