UPDATE [8:14 p.m.]: Roswell Road has reopened following a gas main break near Glenridge Drive, Sandy Springs police said.
UPDATE [4:13 p.m.]: Any semblance of winter weather melted away Monday afternoon when Atlanta hit 76 degrees and tied the record high for this date, Channel 2 Action News reported. The record was set in 1995.
UPDATE [3:50 p.m.]: A gas main break is blocking Roswell Road at Glenridge Drive in Sandy Springs, police said. Atlanta Gas Light crews are working with first responders to fix the 6-inch line.
The road is expected to be closed for an “extended time.” Authorities are advising motorists to avoid the area.
ORIGINAL STORY: Temperatures will be nearly 20 degrees above average by Monday afternoon, making it feel more like April than early February, according to Channel 2 Action News.
Atlanta’s projected high of 73 degrees could fall just three degrees short of a record set in 1995, the news station reported.
“It’s going to be a beautiful day today across North Georgia,” Channel 2 meteorologist Brian Monahan said. “You have earned a nice Monday. You're going to get it.”
It may be a bit chilly to start the day, but Monahan said that’s typical of early February. It’s supposed to be cold in the mornings, he said.
While metro Atlanta is in the 40s, many spots across North Georgia are kicking off Monday in the 30s. You may want a coat to step outside, Monahan said.
By lunchtime, Monahan expects metro Atlanta will have reached the mid-60s. Most of North Georgia should top out in the 70s under lots of sunshine, he said.
“Strong high pressure along the East Coast brings us a south and southwest wind today,” he said. “That’s a warm weather wind direction for us.”
In fact, above-average temperatures are in the forecast for the next few days, according to Channel 2. That springlike weather will come at a price. No rain is in the forecast Monday, but it could be the last dry day this week.
Showers are 40% likely Tuesday before North Georgia really turns on the tap and inches of rain fall on the state, according to the latest forecast.
Monahan said the first showers should arrive for the Tuesday morning commute. There will be “a whole lot more rain where that came from” for Wednesday and Thursday, which carry a 90% and 100% chance of rain, respectively.
“We could see more than 4 inches of rain across parts of North Georgia Thursday into early on Friday,” he said. “That will come with the risk of storms, too.”
The chance of showers sticks around through the weekend, according to Channel 2.
While most interstates are trouble-free to start the Monday morning commute, an early crash on the Northside Perimeter could have long-lasting impacts, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
At least one person was injured in the wreck on I-85 North at Chamblee Tucker Road, the Traffic Center reported. DeKalb County police have a right lane blocked while they work to right an overturned vehicle.
“Thankfully this is heading away from town,” traffic reporter Mark Arum said.
The crash is not causing any southbound delays for the ride between Lawrenceville and Midtown, he said.
» 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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