WEATHER-TRAFFIC UPDATE: Wrecks, fire slow Atlanta traffic as evening commute heats up

ATLANTA FORECAST

Thursday: High: 65

Thursday night: Low: 47

Friday: High: 63

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

It's been a rough afternoon for Atlanta traffic so far, and increased volume from the evening commute isn't helping matters, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

Heavy delays linger after a right lane of I-285 North near Ga. 29 was blocked for roadwork, according to the Traffic Center.

There are also heavy construction-related delays out of Braselton, the Traffic Center reported. Crews have blocked a right lane of I-85 South past Ga. 211. Delays have mounted to more than 40 minutes.

Memorial Drive between Covington Highway and Kensington Road has been shut down due to a large office complex fire near Avondale Estates, the Traffic Center reported. No one was injured in the fire, but firefighters aren’t able to safely enter the building to battle the blaze, according to DeKalb County Fire Capt. Dion Bentley.

MORE: Firefighters battling large blaze at DeKalb office complex

Rain should not get in the way of your Valentine’s Day plans Thursday evening, Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Karen Minton said. Thursday is a transition day before North Georgia settles into a very wet pattern.

Waves of rain are expected to move in for the weekend and stick around through most of next week, she said.

By next Friday, some parts of far North Georgia could get 4 to 6 or more inches of rainfall, according to Channel 2. Metro Atlanta could see 3 or more inches.

“All that rain is coming in, and it could be quite significant for several days,” Minton said.

North Georgia started Thursday chilly, with temperatures in the 30s. But Atlanta reached 62 degrees by 5:15 p.m.

“In fact, we are going to push them into the mid-60s, well above 56 (degrees), which is our average, where we got you yesterday,” she said.

Channel 2 meteorologist Brian Monahan said North Georgia could see showers start to build in as early as Friday night. There is a 30 percent chance of rain for the evening, according to the latest forecast.

“It will be wet for your Friday evening plans, early Saturday morning,” he said.

There’s rain in the forecast from then on out, but Monahan said he does expect some fleeting rays of sun Saturday afternoon. It could be the last time for a while, he said.

“I do see a little window on Saturday afternoon where we will have some drier weather,” he said. “We may have a chance for a bit of sunshine ... before a front stalls and more moisture moves in.”