WEATHER-TRAFFIC UPDATE: Atlanta tops out at 88 while interstate congestion remains thick

From fatal wrecks to interstate-blocking crashes, it’s been a rough Friday on the roads.

Fortunately, conditions are improving slightly, but heavy delays remain on most metro Atlanta interstates, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

Gwinnett County is gridlocked by a stalled tractor-trailer on I-85 North at Hamilton Mill Road, which blocked lanes for about an hour, according to the Traffic Center. It’s been cleared, but heavy delays linger.

In Cobb County, a left lane of I-575 North is blocked by a crash at Bells Ferry Road, which is adding to heavy delays back from I-75, the Traffic Center reported.

Cherokee County drivers are advised to avoid Ga. 20 at Sutallee Woods Trail, which is blocked by a wreck, according to the Traffic Center.

In the same county, delays are building ahead of high school graduation ceremonies at First Baptist Church of Woodstock. Heavy traffic is expected in both directions of Ga. 92 as well as Trickum Road and Neese Road, Woodstock police spokeswoman Brittany Page said.

The first ceremony begins at 4 p.m. and the last starts at 8 p.m.

“The delays will extend into the evening hours,” according to police.

While eastbound lanes of I-285 reopened about 1:15 p.m., the interstate remains slow during the evening commute. A chain-reaction crash blocked the interstate for hours.

RELATED: I-285 reopens after chain-reaction crash, but delays remain

Earlier Friday morning, a crash involving a tractor-trailer killed a woman on I-285 in DeKalb County, AJC.com previously reported.

MORE: Woman ID'd in crash with tractor-trailer on I-285 in DeKalb County

After a record-setting nine consecutive days of temperatures in the 90s, Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan said the city won’t get out of the 80s this afternoon. Areas from Athens to Eatonton aren’t quite done with the 90s yet, but he said temps will still be lower than the past few days for all of North Georgia.

Atlanta topped out at 88 degrees, which was the projected high for the day. It is, however, still several degrees above average for this time of year. It’s hot, but it’s not the record heat North Georgia saw over Memorial Day weekend and the first half of the week.

Monahan said the hot weather pattern is related to the severe weather across the middle part of the country. Just two tornadoes were reported on Thursday, a big drop in the tornado activity from the past two weeks. It broke the streak of 13 consecutive days with at least eight reports of tornadoes, which Monahan said is a new record.

“That’s associated with our heat ending,” he said. “Our big high that's been giving us that traffic jam in the atmosphere, this is weakening. And as it pushes away, our temperatures are going to go from the 90s into the 80s (Friday). I see several days in the 80s in the forecast ahead.”

Sunday has the next chance of rain, a low 10 percent.

“I know a lot of you are talking about how crispy and crunchy your lawn is getting,” Monahan said. “The garden needs some water, needs some rain. Well, we'll try to get a little bit of rain in here this afternoon.”

Afternoon highs are forecast in the upper 80s for the next few days, but Monahan said he sees some cooler mornings ahead. Early next week, metro Atlanta could see lows in the mid-60s, according to Channel 2.

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

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