WEATHER-TRAFFIC: Rain remains in Atlanta ahead of opening night of high school football

Traffic is starting to improve after a slow Friday evening commute, but scattered showers continue across metro Atlanta.

The worst delays are on I-85 South in Gwinnett County, where a crash blocks multiple left lanes near Indian Trail Road, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

Crews also began dismantling a construction crane Thursday in west Midtown, forcing a partial closure of Howell Mill Road between 9th Street and 10th Street. The work is scheduled to wrap up Sunday night.

Friday is the kickoff for two things: a wet weekend across North Georgia and the first week of high school football.

The showers could stick around into the evening when games start, and two games have already been rained out. The Corky Kell Classic games at Coolray Field were canceled because of bad weather in the Lawrenceville area.

MORE: Two Corky Kell Classic games canceled by thunderstorm

Channel 2 meteorologist Brian Monahan said there’s a 40% opportunity for rain pretty much anywhere through the early evening.

The northeast corner of the state and the north metro Atlanta area could see severe storms, according to Channel 2. Clarke, Jackson, Madison, Oconee and Oglethorpe counties were under a severe thunderstorm warning until 7:15 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

A flash flood warning is also in place for Dawson and Pickens counties until 11 p.m., according to the NWS.

At the same time, Atlanta heated up quickly, surpassing its expected high of 92 by a degree, according to Channel 2. The rain has cooled off the city considerably, with temperature hovering in the low 80s at 6:30 p.m.

North Georgia has spent 60 days this year in 90-degree heat. But as storm chances go up this weekend, temps will come down.

Metro Atlanta could see numbers in the 70s and low 80s by Sunday, according to the latest forecast.

A cold front moving in Friday night is forecast to trigger even more widespread rain Saturday. Showers and storms are 60% likely.

“Saturday, while it's not a washout, I would pick earlier in the day rather than later in the day for the outdoor plans,” Monahan said. “Because by the afternoon, I think showers and storms are going to become pretty widespread right along and near this front.”

Heavy rain and frequent lightning are possible through Saturday evening, he said. A tropical system over the Bahamas will help keep the tropical moisture flowing across North Georgia all weekend.

The system has a 60% chance of developing into a tropical storm over the next few days, according to Channel 2.

“While the main part of our system will stay to our east, there’s going to be a lot of tropical moisture around North Georgia,” Monahan said. “That’s the fuel we need for quite a few heavier downpours on Saturday.”

Through Sunday evening, Monahan said there will be no dry air around. Rainfall accumulation will be scattered and spotty, he said, but areas that get rain could see up to an inch.

Some parts of North Georgia along the I-75 corridor could get up to 2 inches of rainfall between today and Sunday, according to Channel 2.

“Settle in for what’s going to be a weekend that’s wet at times across the area,” Monahan said.

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

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