WEATHER-TRAFFIC UPDATE: Atlanta hits 91 degrees, ties record set in 1954

ATLANTA FORECAST

Thursday: High: 90

Thursday night: Low: 69

Friday: High: 90

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

Atlanta has reached 91 degrees, which is 15 degrees above average and ties a record for this date, set in 1954, Channel 2 Action News reported.

In addition to the heat, drivers are having to deal with growing slowdowns on metro Atlanta's interstates, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

In the words of WSB Radio traffic reporter Doug Turnbull, an RV “tried to Evel Knievel the hill” on the I-285 ramp to Cascade Road and overturned, blocking two left lanes. No injuries were reported to the two people inside.

In DeKalb County, roadwork is blocking the left lane of I-285 East near Flat Shoals Road, which is causing delays back to I-675, the Traffic Center reported.

Even before the afternoon heat rolled through, North Georgia started off warm with temperatures in the 70s. Thursday will likely make 152 consecutive days where temperatures did not get below 60 degrees in Atlanta. We hit the record Wednesday at 151 days.

Amid clear skies, Carlos Frega gets ready for his row along the Chattahoochee River on Thursday. JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

The mountain counties have a chance of isolated showers this afternoon, according to Channel 2. A low 20 percent chance of rain returns to the forecast on Sunday, but North Georgia should be mostly dry until then.

“The trend is for above-normal temperatures to take us though the 17th of October, so it’s going to be hot,” Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Karen Minton said. “Keep your summer gear handy. You don’t need to put it away anytime soon.”