WEATHER-TRAFFIC UPDATE: Eastside traffic heavy during evening commute

Tuesday: High: 85

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

DeKalb County traffic has been hit the hardest during the evening commute so far, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

A crash is blocking two center lanes of I-20 West before I-285, which is causing heavy delays on both interstates, the Traffic Center reported.

Nearby, a stalled vehicle is blocking the center lane of I-20 East at Panola Road, which isn’t helping matters, according to the Traffic Center.

In Gwinnett County, two center lanes of I-85 North near Beaver Run Road are blocked because of a crash, which is also causing delays, the Traffic Center reported.

Daily roadwork continues on Peachtree Street at Pharr Road and blocks one northbound right lane.

Despite clouds and some early morning showers, temperatures in the region were on the warm side Monday, according to Channel 2 Action News. Average highs for the first week of October are in the mid-70s, but North Georgia reached the mid-80s this afternoon, Channel 2 meteorologist Brian Monahan said.

“A strong upper-level ridge will keep temperatures warm and our rain chances low through the weekend,” Monahan said. “Expect highs in the mid- to some upper 80s later this week — more than 10 degrees above average.”

Most of the rain stayed to the north Monday, with only a few popup showers in far North Georgia.

“We are going to keep it mainly dry this week,” Channel 2 meteorologist Karen Minton said. “Temperatures will also climb through the end of the week into the upper 80s, close to 90 degrees.”

Above-average temperatures are forecast through mid-October, with a “slight trend downward over the weekend as another little wedge tries to build southward,” Monahan said.

The warmer trend carries over from September, which was the second-warmest on record in Atlanta with an average temperature of 81 degrees. The warmest September was in 1925 with an average temperature of 83, according to Channel 2.

» For updated traffic information, listen to News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB and follow @ajcwsbtraffic on Twitter. 

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