Travel rough after 2 Atlanta interstates blocked to clear wrecks

Thursday morning, I-285 was blocked for more than four hours due to a deadly accident.

While the afternoon was much better, serious roadblocks are popping up during the evening commute, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

I-20 and I-85 are recovering after being briefly blocked to clear crashes. All I-85 North lanes were blocked at I-285 in Fulton County, while all I-20 East lanes were blocked at Flat Shoals Road in DeKalb County, according to the Traffic Center.

#TRAVELADIVSORY Fulton Co: All lanes being held as crews work to clear this crash on I-85/nb at I-285. Big delays. Use Hwy 29 as an alternate. #ATLtraffic https://t.co/j2xHL1ZFrc pic.twitter.com/0R57TJfXXw
— AJC WSB Traffic (@ajcwsbtraffic) October 17, 2019

DeKalb Co: Crews held all lanes on I-20/eb at Flat Shoals (Exit 62) to get a crash out of the left lanes. Traffic stacked and packed leaving Downtown (75-85) as lanes start to reopen. #ATLtraffic https://t.co/j2xHL1ZFrc pic.twitter.com/2zOee9KyXT
— AJC WSB Traffic (@ajcwsbtraffic) October 17, 2019

Cherokee County is also recovering after a crash on I-575 North at Ridgewalk Parkway blocked a left lane, the Traffic Center reported.

This crash has cleared. All lanes open but still slow on I-575/nb. #ATLtraffic https://t.co/20oNHy9hWX
— AJC WSB Traffic (@ajcwsbtraffic) October 17, 2019

In Sandy Springs, a gas leak has shut down Dunwoody Place at Northridge Place. The Traffic Center suggests taking Ga. 9 as an alternate.

TRAVEL ADVISORY in Fulton Co.; Gas Leak Dunwoody Place at Northridge Place has All lanes Blocked Use Hwy 9 as an alternate https://t.co/MhPvicYKPN #atltraffic pic.twitter.com/ZO9lhVjSjO
— AJC WSB Traffic (@ajcwsbtraffic) October 17, 2019

The air in North Georgia on Thursday is some of the coldest to reach the state in six months.

Atlanta started the day in the upper 40s, and mountain counties woke up to numbers in the upper 30s. It hasn’t been this cold since April 21, according to Channel 2 Action News.

Atlanta has since warmed to 66 degrees, which is a degree shy of the projected high.

Unlike on Wednesday, when showers and downpours moved across metro Atlanta, the morning commute was a dry one. The evening commute isn’t any different, but it is breezy.

The northwestern breeze that moved in with a cold front Wednesday stuck around for Thursday. Channel 2 meteorologist Brad Nitz said it should not be as strong Friday.

“Our winds will die down, so lighter winds (Thursday night) into tomorrow morning, and we’ll call it chilly,” he said.

Here are the key take-aways before you head out this morning! You can leave the rain gear at home today and tomorrow, but you may want an extra layer with chilly starts in the 40s (30s in the mountains). Rain returns Saturday. pic.twitter.com/PSlI7EG7dE
— Katie Walls (@KatieWallsTV) October 17, 2019

It seems autumn is finally settling in. Metro Atlanta should start off Friday in the low to mid-40s, while the North Georgia mountains will begin in the 30s, Nitz said.

Dry conditions should continue Friday, but another round of rain moves in for Saturday. Showers are 60% likely throughout the day, according to the latest forecast.

Plan for it now - RAIN could impact Saturday plans, starting in the morning and continuing through the afternoon. I'm tracking today's chill and that area of low pressure - on Ch. 2 Action News This Morning. pic.twitter.com/jZYhxojIB2
— Katie Walls (@KatieWallsTV) October 17, 2019

“I do think there will be plans affected on Saturday in both the morning as well as the afternoon,” Channel 2 meteorologist Katie Walls said. “Good news, though: I’m not expecting any thunderstorms, not worried about any strong or severe weather impacting your Saturday plans.”

Walls said North Georgia will get a break from the rain Sunday before another cold front moves in Monday, increasing the chance of showers to 30%.