WEATHER-TRAFFIC: Road reopens after gas main break in Cherokee County

UPDATE [8:18 p.m.]: While crews are still working on the gas leak in Cherokee County, Hickory Flat Highway has fully reopened, the county's sheriff's office said in a tweet.

ORIGINAL STORY: On an overcast day with more seasonal temperatures, the biggest evening commute obstacle is in Cherokee County.

Hickory Flat Highway is shut down again between Bailey and Jep Wheeler roads due to gas main break. There was a break at the same location about 11 a.m., but the road reopened about 2 p.m., then had to be closed again.

The utility company handling the repairs estimates the road could be blocked until midnight, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said.

In Sandy Springs, a crash on southbound Ga. 400 at Hammond Drive has been cleared, but delays linger.

After spending most of the day in the upper 70s, Atlanta has finally climbed to 80 degrees — a stark change from last week when temps were already in the 90s by lunchtime.

After weeks of stalling out, fall has arrived, Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan said.

“I’m ready to tell you about cooler temperatures this week,” he said. “A lot of highs in the 70s down the line. We're going to be in the 80s today and tomorrow.”

Metro Atlanta should be in the mid-70s for highs this time of year. Instead, temperatures are forecast to top out at 83 degrees Monday and 81 Tuesday before falling out of the 80s Wednesday and Thursday, according to Channel 2.

“I love the way the weekend worked out,” Monahan said. “We swept the 90s out on Friday and had beautiful weather for the weekend. A couple of showers around, sure, but we needed the rain, and we're going to get a little bit of rain again today and tomorrow, too.”

North Georgia has a 40% chance of rain this afternoon and this evening, Monahan said. At 4:30 p.m., there were showers in Dawson County and a few other areas.

“It will be northwest Georgia and the mountains where we have the best chance of rain,” he said. “As we head through late afternoon into this evening, a weakening line of showers and storms is coming toward Blairsville and Gainesville.”

That corner of the state saw a few morning showers as a cold front heads this way. The front continues to fuel showers in a line across Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi and is clipping the North Georgia mountains at noon.

Monahan expects metro Atlanta to stay dry for much of the day.

“I do not expect very much rain at all through LaGrange, Griffin and Eatonton,” Monahan said. “We'll try to get a little more rain in for you by tomorrow.”

Tuesday has a 30% chance of some showers, according to Channel 2.

As the cold front passes by, North Georgia is expected to dry out and cool down. The next chance of rain moves in to start the weekend Saturday, according to the latest forecast.

» 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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