Atlanta dips to low 50s as Halloween travel woes continue

A stormy lunchtime and afternoon have come to an end for metro Atlanta, but drivers are still feeling the lingering effects.

Emergency roadwork, wet pavement and downed trees are slowing down nearly every corner of metro Atlanta, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center. As a result, the evening commute is slow, and those trying to get home before trick-or-treating begins may be sitting in lots of traffic.

Bartow, Cherokee and Cobb counties remain especially slow after all I-75 North lanes were blocked for emergency sign repair at Glade Road, the Traffic Center reported. All lanes have reopened, but delays are extensive.

Still 🔴 GRIDLOCK ALERT into Acworth! Look at the trip time the Triple Team #ATLtraffic Alerts App gave me from I-285 to the earlier sign removal at Glade (Exit 278). Ouch! pic.twitter.com/yIIPgh7nBm
— 🔥Fireball Turnbull 🚁 (@DougTurnbull) October 31, 2019

Traffic within the Perimeter is also struggling, and a stalled vehicle on I-20 West at I-285 is not helping, the Traffic Center reported.

Fulton Co: Stall...I-20/wb at I-285. 2nd right lane blocked. Adding to already dough delays leaving Downtown (75-85). #ATLtraffic https://t.co/j2xHL1ZFrc pic.twitter.com/wg9VhGtOEi
— AJC WSB Traffic (@ajcwsbtraffic) October 31, 2019

A downed tree in Sandy Springs killed a person after it landed on a car at Mt. Paran Road near Jett Road, Channel 2 Action News reported. Sandy Springs police said the road will be closed for several hours.

MORE: Person killed after tree lands on car in Sandy Springs

In the same city, downed trees and power lines have blocked Johnson Ferry Road between Abernathy Road and Sandy Springs Circle, the city said in a tweet. The road is expected to be closed for multiple hours.

Johnson Ferry Road between Abernathy Road and Sandy Springs Circle is closed due to down trees and power lines. Road is expected to be closed for several hours. Please route around.
— Sandy Springs, GA (@SandySpringsGA) October 31, 2019

The only good news on the roads is that it’s no longer raining. By 4 p.m., most of metro Atlanta’s showers dried up as the heaviest rain entered South Carolina.

Channel 2 Action News chief meteorologist Glenn Burns said that will be the last rain Atlanta will see tonight, meaning trick-or-treaters won’t have to worry about umbrellas or ponchos.

A flood watch does remain in effect for most of North Georgia through Thursday evening.

Some big changes are in the forecast over the next 12 hours. Temperatures started out in the 70s, but the rain has quickly cooled the city to 52 degrees.

“That’s a 20-degree temperature drop ...,” Channel 2 meteorologist Brian Monahan said. “Have that heavier coat in the car with you.”

Temperature's are going to fall FAST as the cold front moves through this afternoon -- I'll be tracking that and areas of heavy rain at noon with @GlennBurnsWSB
— Brian Monahan, WSB (@BMonahanWSB) October 31, 2019

With a strong wind pushing in behind the front, temperatures could fall even further during Halloween festivities. The city is expected to bottom out in the 40s by 9 p.m., according to Channel 2.

Monahan said the wind could make it feel even colder, more like wintertime than fall. A freeze warning goes into effect at 11 p.m. Thursday.

As a result, Atlanta is opening an emergency warming center at 9 p.m. at the Old Adamsville Recreation Center at 3404 Delmar Lane. More information is available by calling 404-615-4955.

FREEZE WARNING: We'll go from areas of heavy rain and isolated strong storms -- to the threat of freezing temperatures tomorrow morning! What a wild weather 24 hours.

I'm breaking it all down for you live now on Channel 2. @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/sH8NJk5f6b
— Brian Monahan, WSB (@BMonahanWSB) October 31, 2019

“Behind this system, coldest of the season yet, we'll be in the 30s in the mornings through the weekend,” he said. Temperatures are not forecast to get above the 50s and 60s in the afternoon.