WEATHER-TRAFFIC UPDATE: Sunny skies to last through the week

Tuesday: High: 86

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

Atlanta has enjoyed something it hasn’t seen in a while: sunshine.

After nearly constant showers for 18 of the past 20 days, there is no rain in the forecast through Friday, Channel 2 Action News reported.

“No rain today, no rain tomorrow, no rain Wednesday,” Channel 2 meteorologist Brian Monahan said. “It’s going to stay dry over the next several days.”

And temperatures Monday reached the mid-80s, with Atlanta hitting a high of 85 degrees, the news station reported.

The much-needed sunshine is due to a cold front that moved across North Georgia on Sunday. It pushed away clouds and the blanket of humid air that made things muggy the past few weeks, Monahan said. The front is now over South Georgia, leaving metro Atlanta to dry out.

Expect those warm temperatures to stay through the evening, with temps in the 70s past 9 p.m., Channel 2 reported.

As for swollen waterways, a health advisory is still in place for the Chattahoochee River at Paces Ferry Road but is no longer in place at Medlock Bridge Road. The river has tested for high levels of unsafe bacteria due to excess rain runoff.

With 24-hour controlled releases happening at Buford Dam, swimming in the river anywhere downstream isn’t safe because of fast flow rates, Monahan said.

RELATED: Officials: 'Unsafe' to boat, swim in Chattahoochee; Lake Lanier safe

But if you were headed to a park to enjoy some sun, you'll likely be sitting in traffic for a while. Crashes on I-85 North near Indian Trail Boulevard and I-285 North have only added to the usual evening traffic, according to the WSB 24-Hour Traffic Center.

While Atlanta won’t have to worry about sporting events, Midtown should see some traffic about 7 p.m. as concertgoers head to The Loft to see Perth-based rock band POND.

Gwinnett County should also brace itself for concert traffic with Shania Twain performing at Infinite Energy Arena in Duluth at 7:30 p.m.

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

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