WEATHER-TRAFFIC UPDATE: Wind gusts down power lines, trees as traffic woes continue

Traffic continues to be a mess all across metro Atlanta on Friday afternoon, and strong wind gusts are partly to blame.

There are many reports of downed trees and power lines affecting surface streets as a wind advisory for North Georgia remains in place, Channel 2 Action News reported. Wind gusts as high as 38 mph have been reported.

In Hapeville, a downed tree has made a mess of power lines and blocked North Fulton Avenue near North Avenue, according to the city’s fire department. Georgia Power has been notified, and it’s unclear when the road will reopen.

A downed tree in Cobb County has been cleared from Powder Springs Road near Horseshoe Bend Road, lightening the stress on nearby surface streets, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

That’s good news, considering I-75 and I-575 have been a slow mess all day. An overturned tractor-trailer on Chastain Road blocked the on-ramp to I-575 North for hours, but it has since been cleared.

Within an hour, there were also three wrecks on I-75 near Delk Road in both directions, stifling traffic as the evening commute began. Those incidents have been cleared as well, but a stalled box truck on I-75 North at Wade Green Road is keeping the interstate slow, the Traffic Center reported.

And in Midtown, sewer main repairs continue on West Peachtree Street between 3rd and 4th streets.

It was a really nice Friday afternoon, as a cold front passing by swept away the shower chances.

Pollen levels were up slightly Friday but remained in the moderate range, according to Atlanta Allergy and Asthma, the organization that tracks the daily pollen count. There were 95 particles recorded per cubic meter of air over the past 24 hours, up from 75 on Thursday.

Atlanta topped out at 73 degrees, which is a degree warmer than predicted. However, that’s a few degrees below average for this time of year.

Overnight, much of North Georgia will drop into the 40s for a cool start Saturday, Channel 2 meteorologist Brian Monahan said, then the weather turns gorgeous.

“Mostly sunny, the wind is going to be a lot lighter and temperatures are going to be in the upper 70s,” he said. “A great way to start off the weekend.”

After a slight 20 percent chance of showers Sunday, Monahan said North Georgia will dry out again and really warm up next week.

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