Car fire, Taylor Swift 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.

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.

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.

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.

“A few showers will pop in,” Minton said, but “it will not be as numerous as the past several days.”