Ga. 400 recovers from car fires as evening commute winds down

After a rough evening commute on Ga. 400, the highway is moving without much issue.

Just after 4 p.m., all southbound lanes were blocked near Abernathy Road by a car fire for about 30 minutes, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center. In that time, heavy delays spanned back to Holcomb Bridge Road, which is about seven miles.

Within an hour, another car fire blocked two southbound lanes of Ga. 400 near Mansell Road, according to the Traffic Center.

Both incidents have been cleared, and traffic has recovered.

Another nasty wreck that stifled the Perimeter in Fulton County has been cleared as well, after causing hefty delays on the outer loop near Chamblee Dunwoody Road, the Traffic Center reported.

The main traffic trouble that persists is in Midtown, where Peachtree Street is blocked between 3rd and 5th streets to allow crews to work on a sewer collapse, the Traffic Center reported.

After Friday’s heavy rain, sinkhole repairs continue in Rockdale County. Rowland Road between Rockdale County High School, C.J. Hicks Elementary and Rockdale Magnet School remains closed, according to authorities. Pine Log Road and Eastview Road are possible alternates, the Traffic Center reported.

MORE: Sinkhole limits access to schools in Rockdale; repairs cause 'big jam' in Midtown

With no major weather systems on the horizon, Atlanta reached and passed its projected high of 80 degrees Monday under a sunny sky, according to Channel 2 Action News. At 5 p.m., the city hit 81 degrees, and it’s now dropped back to 80.

“80 degrees (is) the typical high for about the 10th day of May. We should be in the low 70s,” Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan said.

Through the end of the month and into the start of May, he said temperatures look to be above average.

The pollen count was not available again Monday because of malfunctioning equipment at Atlanta Allergy and Asthma, the organization that tracks the daily pollen count. A count will not be available until new equipment is set up and the data is confirmed to be accurate, a spokesman for the organization said.

North Georgia is in for a stretch of warm, dry weather. By Wednesday, highs are forecast in the mid-80s.

“Through Wednesday, we're going to be dry,” Monahan said. “Most of Thursday is going to be dry, may see some showers slip in late. Friday morning, we'll have some showers coming across North Georgia.”

He said he does not expect any severe weather associated with the system, but a few rumbles of thunder are possible. There is a 60 percent chance of rain Friday, according to Channel 2.

Saturday should be another dry day before isolated showers return for Sunday, Monahan said.