Light to moderate rain is moving across North Georgia on Friday morning, making road conditions slick for the morning commute.
A number of crashes have already been reported across metro Atlanta, including a deadly collision that shut down I-85 South for more than four hours in northern Gwinnett County. Pack your patience and allow some extra time to get where you’re going, Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Katie Walls said.
“A lot of that light rain mixes with that very shallow layer of dirt and grime and oil on the surface, making it even slicker,” she said. “For those of you hitting the roadway, just keep in mind that hydroplaning is very real this morning.”
Rain chances will stay high at 80% throughout the morning commute, according to Channel 2. The concentration of rain has moved out of the western suburbs and into the heart of metro Atlanta.
Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM
Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM
Walls said it will continue moving east and northeast throughout the morning.
With temperatures running in the mid- to upper 40s, she said wintry precipitation and icy patches will not be a concern.
“Nonetheless, still wet roadways are going to be problematic, especially for the first half of the day,” she said. “Then things start to improve thereafter.”
A cold front moving into Georgia after lunch will help to sweep away all the moisture. By 1 p.m., Walls said she expects to see the rain start shifting to the east.
The rain should be moving into South Carolina and the Augusta area before the start of the evening commute, and North Georgia will start to dry out, she said.
“We're looking at a partly cloudy sky right around 4 p.m.,” she said. “We'll continue to see that partial clearing as we head toward the afternoon. A few spotty sprinkles can’t be ruled out this evening, but overall your rain chances (are) running very low.”
Afternoon temperatures aren’t too shabby either, she said. The projected high Friday is 56 degrees in Atlanta, which is a few degrees above average for this time of year.
Behind the front, some slightly cooler temperatures are in store for the weekend, but Walls said it will still be feeling like it should for the end of January. Highs near 50 degrees are in the forecast for Saturday and Sunday, with morning lows in the mid-30s, according to Channel 2.
The deadly crash on I-85 has since cleared, but major delays remain through northern Gwinnett County, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
RELATED: 2 killed in crash that shut down I-85 in Gwinnett County for hours
While southbound delays are subsiding near the crash site at Old Peachtree Road, the northbound ride is still jammed out of Suwanee. A crash on I-985 north of the I-85 interchange was likely caused by drivers turning around in the median during the four-hour shutdown, the Traffic Center reported.
The best alternate is Satellite Boulevard, which is the closest route to I-85, according to the Traffic Center. Buford Highway and Ga. 316 are other options to get back to the interstate.
Multiple crashes have also been reported on I-75, according to the Traffic Center. The Georgia State Patrol has responded to at least seven wrecks in the northbound lanes between I-285 and Ga. 5 in Cobb County, the Traffic Center reported at 7:30 a.m.
In Fulton County, emergency roadwork is adding to delays on the Perimeter. Two right lanes are blocked on the outer loop at Cascade Road, resulting in about 30 minutes of extra delays, the Traffic Center reported.
Drivers should take Fulton Industrial Highway instead.
» 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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