Thursday’s evening commute is moving at a crawl.
At 5:30 p.m., the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center map had nearly the entire Northside, Downtown Connector and even a section of the southern Perimeter colored red — which isn't a good thing.
Credit: WSB 24-hour Traffic Center
Credit: WSB 24-hour Traffic Center
In north Fulton County, two left lanes of Ga. 400 North are blocked by a wreck near Windward Parkway, according to the Traffic Center.
⚠️ TRAVEL ADVISORY Alpharetta: GA-400/nb n of Windward Pkwy. (Efit 11), crash two left lanes. #ATLtraffic pic.twitter.com/quk5CPCT7Z
— Fireball Turnbull (@DougTurnbull) May 2, 2019
In neighboring Sandy Springs, two left lanes of the Perimeter’s inner loop are blocked by a crash before Roswell Road, jamming traffic back into Dunwoody, according to the Traffic Center.
#TRAVELADVISORY Sandy Springs: Crash...I-285/eb (Inner Loop) before Roswell Rd (Exit 25). 2 left lanes blocked. Traffic jammed back in to Dunwoody. #ATLtraffic pic.twitter.com/6UskNf7ZJY
— AJC WSB Traffic (@ajcwsbtraffic) May 2, 2019
In DeKalb County, the ramp from I-85 South to I-285 South was blocked briefly by a stalled tractor-trailer, which has gridlocked both interstates, the Traffic Center reported.
DeKalb Co: All lanes being held on the ramp from I-85/sb to I-285/sb (Inner Loop) to clear this stalled big rig. Definitely causing some delays. #ATLtraffic pic.twitter.com/vr8HPjT4LM
— AJC WSB Traffic (@ajcwsbtraffic) May 2, 2019
In Atlanta, a left lane of I-75 North is blocked by a crash near Northside Drive, the Traffic Center reported. A crash on the Downtown Connector near 10th Street also has a southbound lane blocked.
Downtown: Crash...Conn/sb (75-85) before 10th St. 2nd left lane blocked. Adding to already tough delays through the city. #ATLtraffic https://t.co/j2xHL1ZFrc pic.twitter.com/OSw4fHGRoY
— AJC WSB Traffic (@ajcwsbtraffic) May 2, 2019
Earlier Thursday, a natural gas line was hit near the intersection of Flat Shoals Road and Cloverdale Drive, which caused businesses and a nearby day care to be evacuated, Atlanta Fire Rescue Sgt. Cortez Stafford told AJC.com. Float Shoals Road was blocked until the leak was capped.
Atlanta is hovering in the low 80s, and coupled with humidity at 41%, it’s muggy across North Georgia.
Unlike Wednesday, however, afternoon showers and storms are sticking a little farther to the west. Most of North Georgia should stay dry Thursday as a result, Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan said.
“For most of us, it is going to be a dry day today,” he said. “Another warm one, too. It’s another June-like kind of afternoon.”
Credit: JOHN SPINK / AJC
Credit: JOHN SPINK / AJC
An isolated shower is possible, mainly in the northwest corner of the state.
“(Wednesday) we had the rain and storms pop up right over the Westside of the metro,” Monahan said. “Today we're going to move that rain about 100 miles farther west. I expect most of us to stay mainly dry and warm.”
Say hello to Sancho for our #WalkingtheDog forecast this morning! :) I'm looking ahead at the rain forecast as we head into the weekend -- live now to 7am on Channel 2! @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/Wl1gXfzdxT
— Brian Monahan, WSB (@BMonahanWSB) May 2, 2019
Tree pollen was in the high range again, but grass pollen levels came down. The count was 139 particles per cubic meter of air, according to Atlanta Allergy and Asthma, the organization that tracks the daily pollen count.
Rain moving in Friday could bring some relief.
Tree pollen is in the high range again today. I'm tracking rain headed our way that will help. I'll have the latest on WSB-TV at noon and 5 pm. pic.twitter.com/AvRKGC6mNf
— Brad Nitz (@BradNitzWSB) May 2, 2019
“There’s going to be some changes in the rain pattern,” Monahan said. “Warm and humid to start, then as a cold front approaches, we'll see some more scattered showers and storms.”
The change is associated with a system of heavy rain and severe storms over the middle part of the country, Monahan said. Showers and storms are 40 percent likely Friday, but severe weather is not in the forecast, according to Channel 2.
Showers and storms return for part of the weekend. I'll have the updated timeline for the wet and dry periods on WSB-TV at noon and 5 pm. pic.twitter.com/sXULp0X2iD
— Brad Nitz (@BradNitzWSB) May 2, 2019
By Saturday, Monahan said there’s a 60 percent chance of more widespread scattered showers and storms. Sunday’s rain chance is 40 percent, and temps are expected to drop a few degrees. Weekend highs are in the low 80s, according to the latest forecast.
» 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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