WEATHER-TRAFFIC UPDATE: Atlanta hits 82 amid congested commute

Atlanta has warmed past the predicted high for Monday, albeit by only a degree.

Meanwhile, Atlanta traffic has picked up considerably on the Northside as the evening commute continues to chug along.

In DeKalb County, I-85 North near Clairmont Road has been stifled by a wreck that blocked two lanes, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center. All lanes have reopened, but delays remain heavy.

In Fulton County, a left lane and right shoulder of I-285 East near Glenridge Road is blocked by a crash, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

In Cobb County, a right lane of I-75 North is blocked by a crash near Delk Road, adding to delays caused by the evening trip home, the Traffic Center reported.

In Forsyth County, a stalled truck on the right shoulder of Ga. 400 past McFarland Parkway isn’t helping the evening commute, according to the Traffic Center.

The slowest area on the Southside is in Clayton County, where a left lane of I-675 South is blocked near Forest Parkway because of a crash, according to the Traffic Center.

A cold front that brought wet weather to the state this weekend has moved through, so Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan said North Georgia is enjoying lower humidity and a mainly clear sky Monday.

Atlanta hit 82 degrees, which is a degree warmer than the expected high, according to Channel 2. That’s also above average for this time of year.

“It’s going to feel like these temperatures, actually what it says on the thermometer, because the humidity is going to stay nice and low,” Monahan said. “So we're not talking about a ‘feels like’ or a heat index today, just a nice, comfortable day.”

After a few days of rain, the pollen count is down slightly but still considered high. The count for Monday was 114 particles per cubic meter of air, and both tree and grass pollen are in the high range, according to Atlanta Allergy and Asthma, the organization that tracks the daily pollen count.

Clear skies Monday night will make for another comfortable start Tuesday morning, Monahan said.

“There will be some clouds around here and there, but no rain from any of those clouds as we move through your Tuesday morning,” Monahan said. “Then through the afternoon, a lot of sunshine (and) high pressure are really going to give us a nice start to the week.”

That high pressure will help keep North Georgia dry through the middle of the week, he said. There’s a 20 percent chance a few isolated showers could slip in Thursday, then the rain chance ramps up Friday and into the weekend as the high breaks down, according to Channel 2.