It’s been a laborious afternoon on the roads Friday.
Holiday traffic has most interstates backed up, and several wrecks aren't helping matters, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
The Perimeter is one of the interstates being hit the hardest, with a car fire previously blocking all I-285 North lanes at Church Street, according to the Traffic Center. The burned vehicle is being cleared, allowing all lanes to reopened, but heavy delays remain.
In Doraville, a fire at a recycling plant in the 2700 block of Woodwin Road is affecting traffic, police said in a tweet. Both directions of the road are blocked for fire personnel.
DeKalb fire said there are no injuries or potential danger.
Nearby, three right lanes of I-85 South were blocked near Clairmont Road in Brookhaven, further complicating DeKalb County traffic, according to the Traffic Center. Only the shoulder remains blocked, but delays linger.
In addition to Labor Day, Atlanta roads will be congested with tens of thousands in town for Dragon Con, Atlanta Black Pride and the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game between Alabama and Duke.
RELATED:
The Dragon Con parade at 10 a.m. Saturday will shut down Peachtree Street between International Boulevard and North Avenue. The Traffic Center is advising motorists to be cautious of extra pedestrians, some of them in costume, downtown this weekend.
Add to that any hurricane evacuations in Florida ahead of Hurricane Dorian, and Atlanta roads may be a bit crowded all weekend. Georgia Department of Transportation spokeswoman Natalie Dale said they will always welcome people seeking respite, but she had a suggestion.
“It might behoove them to take in the lovely sights of Alabama or Mississippi,” she said.
While our neighbors to the south are bracing for the hurricane, weather in North Georgia is actually going to be pretty nice over the weekend.
Dorian is predicted to continue strengthening. As of 2 p.m. Friday, the Category 3 storm was moving toward the Bahamas with sustained winds of 115 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
MORE: Hurricane Dorian strengthens, upgraded to Category 3 storm
It will be a major concern for Florida, but Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Katie Walls said North Georgia does not have to worry just yet.
“I know you're hearing a lot about Dorian right now,” she said. “But if we experience any impact here in North Georgia, it won’t be until mid- to late next week. For our Labor Day holiday, things are looking picture perfect.”
You should have no problem getting time by the pool or taking in one of many outdoor events scheduled in Atlanta this weekend, according to Channel 2. Temperatures are forecast to reach about 90 degrees in the city Friday and Saturday. Sunday’s high is a projected 88 degrees.
RELATED:
Some moisture will start to creep into Georgia as things ramp up off Florida’s Atlantic Coast, but it won’t be much, Channel 2 meteorologist Brian Monahan said.
While rain is not in the forecast Friday, isolated showers are 10% likely over the weekend.
“I expect most of North Georgia to stay pretty dry through most of the holiday weekend,” he said.
It’s 88 degrees in Atlanta at the moment, with only two degrees to go before the city hits its expected high.
Those with plans to travel to the Florida Peninsula over Labor Day weekend may want to reconsider, Monahan said. Travel to central and south Florida is not a good idea past Saturday.
Beaches on the Panhandle will likely see some rough seas, but travel there is still possible this weekend.
“Watch the forecast carefully,” Monahan said. “Likely going to be some effects there but not until the very, very end of Labor Day weekend, or even beyond.”
Beaches along the Georgia coast and in South Carolina should also be a safe bet, Monahan said, as rain will stay to the south this weekend. Still, rip currents and beach erosion are possible.
