WEATHER-TRAFFIC UPDATE: Rain moves into North Georgia as wreck stifles I-75 in Henry County

ATLANTA FORECAST

Friday: High: 63

Friday night: Low: 54

Saturday: High: 66

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

Showers are moving into far North Georgia as the entire state prepares for a wet week.

North Georgia is in for several inches of rain over the next seven days, and the first wave starts Friday night, according to Channel 2 Action News.

“We’re at the start of what’s going to be a very wet weather pattern across North Georgia,” Channel 2 meteorologist Brian Monahan said. “We have the potential for more than a half a foot of rain, especially from Atlanta northward, between Friday night and next Friday night.”

Friday afternoon was dry and warm with temperatures well above average, according to Channel 2. Temps peaked in the low 60s, and it’s 59 degrees in Atlanta as of 6:45 p.m.

The day started out as much as 22 degrees higher than Thursday.

The dry weather meant the roads weren't slick for the evening commute, but Henry County is having issues regardless, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

All lanes are blocked on I-75 South at Ga. 20 because of a tractor-trailer crash, the Traffic Center said.

Most other roads are recovering from the evening commute and moving near interstate speeds, the Traffic Center reported.

The first wave of rain moving in this evening could be heavy at times, Monahan said. There is a 40 percent chance of showers as a cold front dips in from the north.

“There is the chance for a stray shower or two during the evening commute, but most of the rain — some heavy — will wait until after dark into the early hours of tomorrow morning,” he said.

And it should still be rainy when North Georgia wakes up Saturday, he said.

While there is an 80 percent chance of rain Saturday and Sunday, the weekend won’t be a washout. Monahan said North Georgia will see some sunshine.

“The best time for your outdoor plans this weekend, it’s going to be (Saturday) afternoon,” he said. “You're going to have a window where it’s going to be a little drier.”

The first wave moves out by Saturday. North Georgia should get about an inch or less of rain over the weekend, but much more is expected next week.

After a brief break, Monahan said another system moves in, stalls out and is “not going to be going anywhere.” Intermittent waves of heavy rain will continue through the week.

“It’s going to be a wet commute Monday morning and a lot of wet commutes next week as this front just kind of sits across metro Atlanta over the next several days,” he said.

By next Friday, North Georgia is looking at inches and inches of rainfall, as well as a high flooding risk.

“The potential exists for at least 6 inches of rain, with most areas in the 4- to 8-inch range,” Monahan said. “Parts of the North Georgia mountains will be on the higher end of this scale, if not above it.”

The good news? Temperatures should stay above average across North Georgia, Minton said.

“At least it’s warmer, so we should not be dealing with frozen (precipitation),” she said.