Car fire, spilled chicken guts causing problems

Atlanta is hovering in the low 90s after hitting the expected high of 93 degrees. Thankfully, traffic is already starting to quell from a terrible early afternoon.

That doesn't mean roads are moving quickly, though. There are still some major problems as wrecks and holiday travel plans continue to butt heads, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

A car fire has all lanes of the southbound Downtown Connector blocked after Ga. 166, according to the Traffic Center.

#REDALERT Downtown: Car Fire...Conn/sb (75-85) past Hwy 166 (Exit 243). All lanes SHUTDOWN. Tough delays before I-20. Use I-285 as an alternate. #ATLtraffic pic.twitter.com/80zTZeAPjT
— AJC WSB Traffic (@ajcwsbtraffic) May 24, 2019

All I-20 East lanes were briefly blocked past Fulton Industrial Boulevard to clear a crash, according to the Traffic Center. That created delays back past Thornton Road.

Fulton Co: All lanes being held on I-20/eb past Fulton Industrial Blvd (Exit 49) to hopefully clear a crash from the left lanes. Heavy delays back toward Thornton Rd (Exit 44). #ATLtraffic pic.twitter.com/Dj9uRmY6aL
— AJC WSB Traffic (@ajcwsbtraffic) May 24, 2019

The trip south has been a rough one along I-75 in Henry County, where bumper-to-bumper traffic was 16 miles long just before 5 p.m., according to the Traffic Center. Construction that is reducing the interstate to two lanes at High Falls Park Road isn’t helping matters.

Pick a number. 16!! That’s how many miles where traffic is slow this hour down through Henry County. South side is always a focus on holiday weekends. #ATLtraffic #MemorialDayWeekend pic.twitter.com/JAK7AXhdGX
— Ashley Frasca (@AshleyFrascaWSB) May 24, 2019

Authorities advised motorists to avoid Ga. 369 in Cherokee County after a tractor-trailer overturned, spilling its load — chicken guts. The road reopened about 6:30 p.m., but it likely will take several hours to clean up the area.

Avoid Hwy 369 at Yellow Creek Rd if possible. Road is shut down due to a tractor trailer overturning that was transporting chicken guts. pic.twitter.com/h0TgwONtPO
— Cherokee Sheriff’s Office (@CherokeeSO) May 24, 2019

Security wait times at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport are coming down after a hectic morning rush. At one point, the line for the main checkpoint snaked through the terminal and into baggage claim.

Waits were as long as 30-45 minutes at the South security checkpoint early Friday, according to the airport’s wait time estimates. Waits have been less than 15 minutes during the afternoon.

Friday is now the hottest day so far of 2019. Feel like you’ve heard that before? Every day this week has exceeded top temperatures, and Friday hasn’t been any different, according to Channel 2 Action News.

We'll hit the average high for this time of year at 10am...a HOT day is underway with even hotter temperatures forecast this weekend. Stay hydrated! pic.twitter.com/8lFwi6R7zl
— Katie Walls (@KatieWallsTV) May 24, 2019

“It is a hot day ... and even hotter temperatures are in the forecast,” Channel 2 meteorologist Katie Walls said. “We're talking about record-setting heat through the weekend, even into your Monday and Tuesday.”

Saturday and Sunday will also be the hottest days of the year, she said. Memorial Day on Monday will be, too. By then, high temps are expected to climb into the mid- to upper 90s, according to the latest forecast.

MORE: Sweltering, potentially record-setting Memorial Day weekend on tap

A beautiful start to a fantastic (and hot) FRIDAY! Temperatures will climb into the low 90s yet again today with RECORD HEAT on the way for the weekend. My forecast is ahead at 6:50 pic.twitter.com/6kn62BQ7dR
— Katie Walls (@KatieWallsTV) May 24, 2019

Metro Atlanta is muggy but mostly rain-free Friday. A few spotty showers fell in northwest Georgia before sunrise, and a few more popped up in the northeast at lunchtime, but it’s dry at 5:30 p.m.

Friday carries a 10 percent chance of rain, according to Channel 2. Walls said you won’t need any rain gear for your Friday night plans, but it will be warm.

Almost time to put the bus-stop forecast away for summer! Definitely a shorts and t-shirt kind of day with highs climbing into the lower 90s yet again. The best chance for a shower will be in the mountains. pic.twitter.com/wntwTgvl3N
— Katie Walls (@KatieWallsTV) May 24, 2019

While rain chances are pretty close to nil across North Georgia and the Southeast this weekend, the middle part of the country is at risk of severe weather. Walls said those traveling to the upper Midwest and through the Plains ahead of the holiday weekend will want to keep the storm risk in mind.

“I know a lot of folks are traveling today, so just wanted to give you a heads up,” she said.

In North Georgia, the weekend will just be a hot one. Monday’s high is a projected 96, just 1 degree below the hottest Atlanta has ever been in May. The city has not seen that kind of heat since 1941, according to Channel 2.