[6:45 p.m.]:
The ground stop at the Atlanta airport has been lifted. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, departure delays average between 16 and 30 minutes.
The Ground Stop has been lifted. Operations are back to normal. For any further information, please contact your airline. https://t.co/UibZR7nlMa
— Atlanta Airport (@ATLairport) May 17, 2019
[6:05 p.m.]: Multiple MARTA bus routes around the city are being delayed by heavy traffic. Also, the East-West train line is delayed after a mechanical issue at the Indian Creek station.
Due to a previous mechanical issue departing Ind Creek, delays occurring on East/ Wst line. We apologize for the inconvenience.
— MARTA (@MARTAservice) May 17, 2019
UPDATE [5:45 p.m.]: A ground stop has been issued at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport due to thunderstorms that are moving through south Fulton, DeKalb and Clayton counties. It's unclear when the ground stop will be lifted.
Due to weather/ thunderstorms, there is a Traffic Management Program in effect (Ground Stop). Delays are expected for arrivals and departures. For more information, please visit: https://t.co/PG2ExpsAYm https://t.co/07bqoQP2ZF
— Atlanta Airport (@ATLairport) May 17, 2019
ORIGINAL STORY: After a cooler-than-average week, Atlanta has shot up to 87 degrees at 3:30 p.m., making Friday one of the warmest days so far this year in North Georgia. The first 90-degree day is expected to come as soon as next week.
Meanwhile, a few storms are moving through south Fulton, Clayton and DeKalb counties, complicating the drive home in those areas, according to Channel 2 Action News.
I'm tracking storms now from Carroll through South Fulton, North Clayton, and South DeKalb counties. pic.twitter.com/KxEku8l9nt
— Brad Nitz (@BradNitzWSB) May 17, 2019
Wrecks are also playing their role in slowing traffic, such as a crash on I-20 West at Holmes Drive, which has a right lane blocked, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
Fulton Co: I-20/wb at Holmes Dr (exit 52); crash blocking the right lane; delays back to Lowery Blvd https://t.co/2hvjWkI3bV #ATLtraffic pic.twitter.com/GBNZ09f4j5
— AJC WSB Traffic (@ajcwsbtraffic) May 17, 2019
A crash also hit a fire hydrant on Covington Highway past Wesley Chapel Road in DeKalb, causing water to flood parts of the road, the Traffic Center reported. There are heavy delays in the area.
#UPDATE #TRAVELADVISORY DeKalb Co: Covington Hwy/eb past Wesley Chapel Rd; crash hit fire hydrant and water all over the road; cars getting by in turn lane https://t.co/2hvjWkI3bV #ATLtraffic pic.twitter.com/kMGqXlobBZ
— AJC WSB Traffic (@ajcwsbtraffic) May 17, 2019
The heat will really start to build over the weekend. Channel 2 meteorologist Brian Monahan said it will be the first weekend of the year you will need to be careful of heat exhaustion.
“If you've got plans outside — a longer run, maybe you’ve got some yard work to do over the next couple of days — lots of breaks, lots of water,” he said. “It’s going to be hot.”
Isolated showers continue to develop. We'll see a few more as we head toward the 4-7 pm newscasts. See you then! pic.twitter.com/z4HgPUcfIF
— Brad Nitz (@BradNitzWSB) May 17, 2019
Metro Atlanta likely won’t break into the 90s over the weekend, but Monahan said it will be close. Tuesday should be the first 90-degree day inside the Perimeter, according to Channel 2.
“That’s going to start a heat wave that will take us through most of next week,” Monahan said.
Models are just guidance. We combine our experience and knowledge of past patterns, etc., to make the best possible forecast.
— Brian Monahan, WSB (@BMonahanWSB) May 17, 2019
I wouldn’t bet the house on 100 degrees at ATL next week! https://t.co/w7DtbfbW1t
Monahan said there will not be much Friday to steer the showers around with high pressure sitting over the state.
“They won’t move very much, so that means they could drop quite a bit of heavy rain in a very brief amount of time,” he said. “We’ll watch that through your evening commute.”
Showers and storms will be isolated again today. I'm looking ahead to building heat into the 90s live on @wsbtv at noon. pic.twitter.com/weHW2LChQV
— Brad Nitz (@BradNitzWSB) May 17, 2019
He expects the rain to fade away by 8 p.m., making for dry conditions for any Friday night plans.
Hope you have an amazing weekend! We could see a few storms around later today, but the weekend rain chances are pretty low.
— Brian Monahan, WSB (@BMonahanWSB) May 17, 2019
Here comes the heat! Temps will be into the 90s much of next week. pic.twitter.com/L1Lc1W7Cum
“Between now and the weekend, the rain chance is pretty low for us across North Georgia,” Monahan said. “A few spotty locations could pick up maybe a quarter-inch to a half-inch, but there are many places that are going to get through the next three days dry.”
We're tracking pretty limited chances for rain through the weekend -- I'm breaking down what day has the best chance of rain this weekend... at 5:19am on @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/lTC3F5P7j6
— Brian Monahan, WSB (@BMonahanWSB) May 17, 2019
The rain chance is a low 20 percent for both weekend days, but clouds will start to thicken up Sunday, according to Channel 2.
“That will lead us into a chance of rain just beyond the weekend,” Monahan said.
» 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.