While wrecks are affecting Atlanta traffic during the evening commute, something more bombastic should keep downtown gridlocked into the evening.
Queen + Adam Lambert will play to a sold-out State Farm Arena at 8 p.m., and both the roads in the area and MARTA will likely be “Under Pressure” before and after the concert.
RELATED: Atlanta Concerts this week: 21 Savage, Heart, Queen + Adam Lambert
If arena rock isn’t your thing, the Falcons face the Washington Redskins at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in an exhibition game at 7:30 p.m., which should further congest the area.
The interstates are slow during the drive home, with I-85 North in DeKalb County recovering from all lanes being briefly blocked to clear a wreck near Clairmont Road, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
Cobb County has also never gotten a chance to recover from a lunchtime wreck at Paces Ferry Road.
I-75 is jammed between Midtown and the Perimeter after all lanes were blocked to clear a crash at West Paces Ferry Road, the Traffic Center reported.
This came hours after all inner loop lanes were blocked at Paces Ferry Road due to a crash, which affected Cobb County for hours, the Traffic Center reported. All lanes reopened about 2:30 p.m.
Starting Thursday, crews began dismantling a construction crane, forcing a partial closure of Howell Mill Road between 9th Street and 10th Street. The work is scheduled to wrap up Sunday night.
It has been nearly three weeks since metro Atlanta has seen a day below 90 degrees. On Thursday, the streak was extended to 18 days, according to Channel 2 Action News.
There is, however, a break in sight.
“Two more days of 90s today and tomorrow,” Channel 2 meteorologist Brian Monahan said. “By the weekend, 89 degrees on Saturday, 86 on Sunday, and I see that cooler weather sticking around into early next week.”
Unlike in recent days, there are no air quality alerts. Monahan said a 30% chance of rain in the forecast will help stave off any serious smog issues, but there is still some concern for sensitive groups.
“On a day like today where the heat builds so high and you don't see much in the way of rain, even though we'll be below that Code Orange level, it still can be kind of tough for folks with respiratory issues,” he said. “The young, the elderly, you'll want to limit your time outside.”
It’s 93 degrees at Atlanta at 5:30 p.m. on the way to a projected high of 94, according to Channel 2.
Most of the rain has stayed in the northeast Georgia mountains, but showers could develop into the evening through the Northside, Channel 2 reported.
“Southside, I think it’s going to stay mainly dry and hot through the afternoon,” Monahan said. “Mainly going to be north of I-20.”
Rain chances are going up to 40% Friday and 60% for the weekend, but Monahan said that doesn’t mean it will be a washout. That’s good news, he said, for the spectators taking in the PGA Tour Championship at East Lake.
Tournament play began Thursday morning.
“As we head through Saturday and Sunday, showers and storms are going to be likely,” Monahan said. “Could be some delays in play with some lightning around, especially Saturday. It's going to be the stormier of the two days.”
Friday will see more of a mixture of clouds and sunshine, and there is still a good chance of a 19th day in the 90s, according to Channel 2. A cold front moving in Saturday will bring in some slightly cooler air to drive temperatures down.
“But more importantly, this time of year, it brings more clouds, it brings more showers and storms and that will continue off and on through the day on Sunday,” Monahan said. “Plan on some wet weather at times through the weekend.”
With the cooler weather expected to stick around, so are the elevated rain chances. A wet weather pattern also continues into the start of next week, according to the latest forecast.
» For a detailed forecast, visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution weather page.
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