Rain peppers metro Atlanta on messy evening commute

ATLANTA FORECAST

Thursday: High: 51

Thursday night: Low: 34

Friday: High: 59

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

A light drizzle has developed into spotty patches of rain, complicating the evening commute Thursday.

The showers arrived when Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan said they would: “Right smack dab in the evening commute.”

Two northbound left lanes of Northside Drive at North Avenue have recently reopened after a crash, but surface streets are still backed up, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

Downtown Connector delays between Buckhead and I-20 have grown to more than 40 minutes after a wreck near Courtland Street, the Traffic Center reported.

Pretty much everywhere else is also moving slowly this evening, but things could get more chaotic over the weekend, according to Channel 2.

There is a 90 percent chance of precipitation Saturday, when Atlanta could see an onslaught of rain in the evening.

The latest forecast also shows a big drop in temperatures and some of “the coldest air of the season,” Monahan said. After a high of 64 degrees Saturday, temps may peak at 45 Sunday and 41 Monday, Channel 2 reported.

Monday could begin in the teens and 20s.

“It’s gonna be windy, it’s gonna be cold,” Monahan said. “You’re really going to feel that difference.”

Adding to travel issues this week, a derailed MARTA train that has been stuck on the tracks near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport since Tuesday night is still there.

MARTA crews cleared parts of an airport parking lot below the tracks to bring in a crane and lift the two disabled cars. The crane was originally scheduled to arrive at sunrise, MARTA spokeswoman Stephany Fisher said. Officials pushed back the time to later Thursday.

MARTA is shuttling riders between the College Park and Airport stations until normal service is restored.