WEATHER-TRAFFIC: DeKalb’s messy afternoon continues; Southside travel remains slow

Between a tractor-trailer fire and several wrecks, DeKalb County traffic has had a rough afternoon.

The latest incident affecting DeKalb drivers is a crash on I-85 North at North Druid Hills Road, which blocks two right lanes, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center. Delays span back into Midtown.

In the other direction, a southbound I-85 lane is blocked after a crash near Clairmont Road, according to the Traffic Center.

Those wrecks came shortly after all I-285 West lanes reopened near North Peachtree Road after a tractor-trailer fire shut down the interstate, the Traffic Center reported. Delays linger in the area.

Southside traffic has also been sluggish as those who left southeast Georgia during Hurricane Dorian’s mandatory evacuation return home Thursday.

Traffic is bumper-to-bumper on I-675, and speeds are in the teens on I-75 South, the Traffic Center reported. Backups on I-75 start at Mt. Zion Road.

RELATED: Evacuation lifted along Georgia coast after Dorian rolls through

Cobb County also has its issues, including lots of congestion around Dallas Highway, the Traffic Center reported. A crash on the highway near Ga. 120 has been cleared, but heavy delays remain.

Increased cloud cover is really all North Georgia can expect Thursday as Dorian moves toward the Carolinas.

No rain is in the forecast, and only a moderate breeze is expected to filter into the northern half of the state, according to Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan.

“We'll have some wind gusts up to about 20 mph,” he said. “We can certainly handle that.”

The western side of a tropical system is typically the dry side, and North Georgia is reaping the benefits. While coastal Georgia was experiencing high surf, rain and gusty wind Thursday morning, Monahan said North Georgia will continue its pattern of sunshine and 90-degree temperatures.

Atlanta has already hit 95 degrees, which is well above the average high of 86 for this time of year.

“I don’t see much of a break in that pattern,” Monahan said. “The heat, the dry weather is going to stick around. Maybe a better chance of rain into early next week.”

Highs in the low to mid-90s are forecast for Atlanta through the weekend.

“We’ll keep it in the upper 80s today in the North Georgia mountains, but a string of 90s continues the next several days,” Monahan said. “It looks good for your outdoor plans for the weekend.”

» 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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