WEATHER-TRAFFIC UPDATE: MARTA having track issues; metro roads clogged on hot, dry day
ATLANTA FORECAST
Thursday: High: 91
Thursday night: Low: 68
Friday: High: 89
» For a detailed forecast, visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution weather page.
Most of metro Atlanta, including the northern Perimeter and Downtown Connector, are stuffed with traffic this afternoon. MARTA riders aren’t having a good day, either.
A crash on I-85 South at Ga. 400 is creating heavy backups, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
Crash: I-85/sb at GA-400;on the right shoulder; heavy back ups remain; https://t.co/j2xHL1ZFrc; #ATLTraffic pic.twitter.com/ju89D84ios
— AJC WSB Traffic (@ajcwsbtraffic) June 7, 2018
A stalled vehicle on I-285 at Roswell Road on the right shoulder is causing delays, the Traffic Center reported. Another stall on I-85 North at Beaver Ruin Road is causing congestion.
MARTA said via a tweet that a track issue near the Buckhead Station is causing 20-minute delays on the Red and Gold lines.
A track issue near Buckhd Stn is causing delays on Red & Gold lines, approximately 20 minutes.
— MARTA (@MARTASERVICE) June 7, 2018
Multiple stretches of U.S. 41 are closed for construction, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation. The right lane is closed in both directions near Langston Drive until 4 p.m., and both directions are closed near Windy Ridge Parkway until 4 p.m.
These lane closures will be in effect again today. https://t.co/EBlCw5CngX
— Cobb County DOT (@CobbDOT) June 7, 2018
There are no showers expected today to put a damper on those construction projects. Atlanta should stay hot, dry and sunny.
It’s currently 86 degrees.
“As you head out this afternoon, dry across the metro,” Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Katie Walls said earlier. “I can’t rule out an isolated mountain sprinkle. High temperatures, they are going to be hot. Plan for some warm numbers running in the lower 90s.”
The Metro will stay hot, dry and sunny today. A shower in the mountains can't be ruled out. Humidity and rain chances gradually increase as we head into the weekend. #gawx pic.twitter.com/PQ1Ee1vn8t
— Katie Walls (@KatieWallsWSB) June 7, 2018
Friday and the weekend should not be as warm as Thursday, according to Channel 2. Highs are projected to drop from the low 90s to the upper 80s.
And it could become increasingly muggy and rainy, Channel 2 reported.
“Get ready,” Walls said. “Higher humidity is indeed in the forecast.”
Dewpoints the last few days have been in the 50s; that's why it's felt less muggy. Now those dewpoints are climbing already to 60°. They'll be climbing gradually as we head toward and into the week. "Sauna-like" comes to mind...#gawx pic.twitter.com/zQaIHQv54U
— Katie Walls (@KatieWallsWSB) June 7, 2018
There is a 20 percent chance of rain to end the week, with most showers sticking to the North Georgia mountains. Saturday and Sunday both have a 30 percent chance of storms, though they should be isolated, the news station reported. Lightning and gusty winds are a concern.
Channel 2 Chief meteorologist Glenn Burns said Atlanta is in for more of last week’s tropical moisture and popup showers. That burst of moisture will follow an area of high pressure that’s moving toward Georgia. Burns called it a “mountain of sinking air.”
That’s why Wednesday had a Code Orange smog alert, but Thursday was mostly smog-free.
» For updated traffic information, listen to News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB and follow @ajcwsbtraffic on Twitter.
» Download The Atlanta Journal-Constitution app for weather alerts on-the-go.
About the Authors
Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives.
