WEATHER-TRAFFIC: Atlanta hits 94 degrees after construction clears in Buckhead

A construction project at Piedmont Hospital made a mess of Buckhead traffic Friday afternoon, but workers have called it a day, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

Two right lanes of Peachtree and Collier roads were blocked most of the afternoon, but the area is recovering after all lanes reopened.

However, I-20 in DeKalb County is a different story. All eastbound lanes were briefly held to clear a crash near Wesley Chapel Road, and delays are increasing quickly, the Traffic Center reported.

Gwinnett County drivers are also sitting in traffic on I-85 North near Jimmy Carter Boulevard after a stall blocked a right lane, the Traffic Center reported.

Atlanta is under a blue sky dotted with only a few clouds, so temperatures have been able to climb quickly, according to Channel 2 Action News. The city is currently at 94 degrees, which was the projected high for the day.

Channel 2 meteorologist Brian Monahan said the summer heat will peak early next week. Above-average temperatures are in the forecast through the middle of August.

“I think the hottest comes Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, and then we'll dial the heat back a little bit,” he said. “But I see no cooler air in sight over the next week to 10 days.”

Friday is the 48th day of 90-degree weather in Atlanta this year. The city normally sees about 37 days in the 90s in an entire year, according to Channel 2. The heat comes down slightly on Saturday with a better chance of showers and storms, but then it builds again.

Monday is expected to hit 96 degrees, which would be the highest numbers North Georgia has seen all year. The peak heat comes just in time for Fulton County and city of Atlanta students to head back to school Monday morning.

“It’s going to be hot this afternoon,” Monahan said. “We'll have a mix of clouds and sunshine. There will be a few thunderstorms around today, but not a whole lot. The rain chance for your Friday is about 20%.”

The highest rain chances should stay to the west of the state over the next few days, he said.

“A couple of small showers could pop up over the metro,

Any rain that does make it into North Georgia is expected to taper off  Friday night, and the overnight hours should be dry, according to Channel 2. Saturday morning should also start off dry and quiet.

“Into the afternoon though, a little better chance for some showers and storms coming our way Saturday,” Monahan said. The rain chance is 30%.

Sunday will be drier but hotter with temperatures in the low to mid-90s, Monahan said.

Lakes are nearly full pool for those with boating plans. This is a good weekend for water or indoor activities, Monahan said.

“I’m thinking pool, movie theater, air conditioning ... because it is going to be so hot,” he said. “It is going to be a very toasty weekend across North Georgia.”

» 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. 

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