WEATHER-TRAFFIC UPDATE: Temps stay above freezing — for now

ATLANTA FORECAST

Friday: High: 43

Friday night: Low: 26

Saturday: High: 48

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

A few traffic issues have plagued metro Atlanta roadways Friday, but temperatures have warmed into the upper 40s, so it’s at least not freezing outside — for now.

Friday morning's freezing temps and lingering moisture created icy conditions on several metro roadways and contributed to a number of crashes, but thankfully the ice has thawed, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

One problem this afternoon is on Paper Mill Road in Cobb County, where someone hit a utility pole. Lines are down between Woodlawn Drive and the Sope Creek bridge.

Earlier, an SUV crashed into a utility pole on Marietta Boulevard near Plymouth Road in northwest Atlanta, causing power lines to hang over the roadway and shutting down all six lanes.

Atlanta police shut down all lanes of Marietta Boulevard at Plymouth Road, where an SUV crashed into a utility pole, causing wires to hang over the roadway. Ice was reported in the area as temperatures dipped to freezing Friday morning. JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

The wires hit a MARTA bus on the way down, knocking off some mirrors, according to Atlanta police. While there was minor damage to the bus, the SUV has extensive damage. No one was reported injured.

Atlanta police Sgt. Barry Gardner told AJC.com the SUV driver was on her way to work when she crashed about 6:30 a.m.

“She hit an ice patch ... lost control and hit a utility pole,” he said.

Georgia Power was on scene working to make repairs and restore power to the area. The road reopened around 11:45 a.m.

Other issues are beginning to pile up as well, including two Ga. 400 North left lanes being blocked due to a crash at Holcomb Bridge Road.

In Cobb County, a car wrecked into a utility pole on Paper Mill Road between Woodlaw Drive and the Sope Creek bridge, according to Cobb County police. The road is expected to be closed until around 6 p.m.

It started out more than 20 degrees colder Friday than Thursday, when Atlanta woke up to temps in the low 50s, according to Channel 2 Action News.

Wind chill is expected to be a factor into the afternoon.

“Winds are not that strong, but just enough to factor in a little bit of a chill,” Channel 2 meteorologist Karen Minton said.

It’s currently 47 degrees, which is four degrees warmer than expected, but the wind chill means it feels like the low 40s, Channel 2 reported.

By 9 p.m., temperatures are expected to fall into the 30s before a projected low of 26 degrees in Atlanta for Saturday morning. The cold air will make for bitter starts the next few mornings, Minton said.

“The plan is to keep the sunshine around through Sunday but also into Monday, too, with temperatures a little warmer,” she said.

On Monday, afternoon highs are expected to top out in the mid-50s, but then Minton said another cold front moves in Tuesday with a 60 percent chance of rain.

“There’s another front coming in and at this point ... there is a possibility as the front slides through, on the backside there could be that winter mix or there could be a little switchover,” she said.

Models Friday indicate snow is most likely in the North Georgia mountains, “where the highest totals are possible,” Channel 2 meteorologist Brad Nitz said in a Facebook post. “This is typical. In that area model data shows 1 to 4 inches of snowfall. Snow may extend down into metro Atlanta with lesser amounts.