WEATHER-TRAFFIC UPDATE: Roads remain swamped while Atlanta hovers in low 80s

The dry, warm weather in metro Atlanta is little consolation for drivers Thursday as a rough evening commute on the roads continues.

Cobb County drivers are enduring heavy delays on I-20 West between Riverside Parkway and Thornton Road because of two blocked right lanes, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

Also in Cobb, two right lanes of I-75 North near I-285 are blocked by a crash, which is causing heavy delays to span back into northwest Atlanta, according to the Traffic Center.

The entire Perimeter is moving slowly, but Clayton County is especially backed up because three right lanes of the inner loop are blocked near Riverdale Road, the Traffic Center reported.

Construction crews have also blocked a right lane of the outer loop past Cascade Road in Fulton County, which is troubling the interstate further, the Traffic Center reported.

The only good news is Henry County traffic has lightened up considerably after a crash blocked all of I-75 South earlier in the afternoon near Ga. 16, according to the Traffic Center.

For now, skies are mostly clear and temperatures are in the low 80s in Atlanta around 5:45 p.m. Channel 2 meteorologist Brian Monahan said North Georgia will eventually feel the effects of a major spring storm dumping feet of snow across the Rockies and the northern part of the country, but it won’t be Thursday.

Another system is set to bring showers to the state overnight, Monahan said.

Pollen levels were back in the extremely high range. The count was 1,792 particles per cubic meter of air for Thursday, and oak, mulberry, sycamore, pine and sweet gum are the primary pollens, according to the Atlanta Allergy and Asthma organization.

A warm front expected to lift through Georgia overnight Thursday is separate from the storm to the north, Monahan said. The front could bring some relief to allergy sufferers.

“That’s going to give us a few showers late tonight through Carrollton and LaGrange, and then a better chance for a few more scattered showers for the morning commute (Friday),” he said. “Not everyone is going to see the rain, but where we do, could even be a few rumbles of thunder.”

Augusta was beautiful for the first round of the Masters, but that may not be the case for the rest of the tournament, which is scheduled to wrap up Sunday.

On Friday, Monahan said the spring snowstorm will send a weakening cold front to Georgia. A 20 percent chance of rain late Thursday night increases to 40 percent Friday, when scattered showers and possible storms are expected during the day, according to Channel 2.

With the cold front expected to stall to the north, Georgia will stay warm and humid through the weekend, Monahan said. There’s also a chance for severe weather Sunday.

“Saturday, could be a few showers and storms around, but Sunday is going to be our busy weather day with showers and storms, and a chance for some strong ones across North Georgia,” he said.

The rain chance is only about 30 percent for Saturday, and most will stay dry, Monahan said. Later in the day, a line of showers and storms is expected to move in from the west.

“That (line) will move across North Georgia through the day on Sunday with heavy rain, the threat of gusty wind, frequent lightning, even an isolated tornado risk,” he said. “Sunday is going to be a day to be weather aware.”

Sunday has an 80 percent chance of rain, according to Channel 2.