LIVE WEATHER-TRAFFIC: Storms delaying flights; trees, power lines down in metro area

ATLANTA FORECAST 

Thursday: High: 89

Thursday night: Low: 71

Friday: High: 87

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

[5:30 p.m.]: A downed tree has blocked two lanes of I-20 near County Line Road in Douglas County, Channel 2 confirmed.

[5:08 p.m.]: The Federal Aviation Administration reported that Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is experiencing arrival delays of more than 100 minutes, and departures are delayed between 30 and 45 minutes.

[5:07 p.m.]: A downed tree is blocking all lanes on Puckett Creek Road off Ga. 140 in Cherokee County, Channel 2 meteorologist Brad Nitz said in a tweet.

[5:01 p.m.]: The severe thunderstorm warning for Fulton, Cobb and Douglas counties has expired, the NWS said.

[4:58 p.m.]: Several downed trees and power lines have been reported in Douglas County, Channel 2 meteorologist Brad Nitz said.

[4:41 p.m.]:

Pleasant Hill Road has reopened after a gas leak previously shut down all lanes between Satellite Boulevard and Breckinridge Boulevard, the Traffic Center confirmed.

[4:39 p.m.]: A tree has fallen on power lines near Oleander Drive and Five Forks Trickum Road in Gwinnett County, Channel 2 meteorologist Brad Nitz said.

[4:26 p.m.]: Severe thunderstorm warnings have been issued for Fulton, Cobb and Douglas counties until 5 p.m., the NWS said.

[4:25 p.m.]: Traffic lights are out on Spring Street between 10th Street and 5th Street in Midtown, the Traffic Center reported. All intersections act as four-way stops until they're fixed.

[4:23 p.m.]: The gas leak on Pleasant Hill Road has been capped, the Gwinnett Fire Department told Channel 2 Action News. The road should reopen soon.

[4:08 p.m.]:

A downed tree that hit vehicles on I-285 near Flat Shoals Road has been cleared, but huge delays are left in its wake, the Traffic Center reported. Delays stretch to I-20.

[4 p.m.]: Rockdale County's severe thunderstorm warning has expired, the NWS said.

[3:58 p.m.]: The severe thunderstorm warnings for DeKalb and Henry counties were canceled a few minutes early by the NWS.

UPDATE [3:37 p.m.]: A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for DeKalb, Rockdale and Henry counties until 4 p.m. by the National Weather Service.

ORIGINAL STORY: Outside of a few problem spots, traffic remains moving in metro Atlanta, but drivers may be dodging isolated showers all afternoon.

A crash on I-75 South before Delk Road in Cobb County is now cleared, but there are heavy delays to Canton Road, the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center reported. In Fulton County, a wreck on I-20 westbound at Windsor Street blocks the center lane and is causing delays on I-20 and the Downtown Connector.

A gas leak on Pleasant Hill Road has closed all lanes between Satellite Boulevard and Breckinridge Boulevard, the Traffic Center reported.

A strong complex of storms is headed for metro Atlanta, which could make Thursday the rainiest day this week. Most of the activity will fire up after 3 p.m., according to Channel 2 Action News.

The complex is expected to mix with a front left over from Wednesday’s storms that is stalled over Georgia.

“That boundary is going to help interact with the moisture that we have in place,” Channel 2 meteorologist Karen Minton said. “Lots of humidity today, and we’re going to see some heavy rain.”

The Southside saw just a few storms Wednesday, but the system won’t spare those south of I-20 Thursday, according to Channel 2. Today’s showers and storms should be concentrated there.

The storms aren’t expected to be too severe. According to the latest forecast, lightning is still a possibility, as well as small hail.

“Slow-moving storms will be part of the day, and that could slow you down on the roads,” Minton said.

The cloud cover is expected to lower temperatures by a few degrees as the week goes on, and the predicted high is 89 degrees Thursday. However, all the humidity should bump the heat index into the mid-90s, according to Channel 2.

The chance of rain is 70 percent Thursday, and Friday has a slightly lower 60 percent chance before the moisture starts to taper off.