WEATHER-TRAFFIC UPDATE: Southside drivers can’t catch a break ahead of expected evening rain
The sky may be gray, but a wave of showers over central Alabama still has a ways to go before dampening North Georgia’s evening.
The foreboding sky may represent the attitude of Henry County drivers, who have endured lengthy delays along I-75 all day Thursday.
Traffic was shut down at Hudson Bridge Road earlier to let emergency vehicles through after two officers were shot Thursday on Eagle Court in Stockbridge.
RELATED: 2 Henry County officers expected to survive; suspected gunman remains in home
Stand off in Henry County continues at the scene where 2 officers were shot. Avoid the area around Red Oak, Flippen, Banks, and Rock Quarry Roads. Live coverage coming up on @wsbtv Ch 2 Action News beginning at 4. pic.twitter.com/cl7ghV4wRF
— Jason Durden (@JasonDurdenWSB) April 4, 2019
While lanes have reopened, trouble remains in both directions. Northbound delays span back to Bill Gardner Parkway, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
Ga. 42 and U.S. 41 are good alternates to avoid the lingering backups.
I-75/nb re-opened, but about 25min delays Locust Grove thru McDonough with Spring Break/normal weekday afternoon grind. Eagle Ct. in Stockbridge is what is shut down for the standoff. #ATLtraffic https://t.co/jdNBblhetN
— Triple Team Traffic (@WSBTraffic) April 4, 2019
Prior construction in neighboring Butts County didn’t help matters. A southbound I-75 lane near Ga. 36 was blocked, and delays linger in the area, the Traffic Center reported.
#TRAVELADVISORY I-75/sb 30 min delays with construction in a lane at Hwy. 36 (exit 201) in Butts Co. Use Hwy. 42/23 or Hwy. 155. Good news: once you get to Hwy. 36, you're at the Buckner's exit. Yummy! #ATLtraffic https://t.co/2hvjWkI3bV pic.twitter.com/UIscnWKx3j
— AJC WSB Traffic (@ajcwsbtraffic) April 4, 2019
At least the weather is cooperating. Atlanta has broken 70 degrees at 4:30 p.m.
Allergy sufferers should be on alert as warm temperatures continue to drive up pollen levels. Thursday’s pollen count was 3,065, more than doubling Wednesday’s count of 1,501. Tree pollen is in the extremely high range.
POLLEN SOARING: Yep, I'm pretty sure you expected it to be this high. Today's #pollen count is up at 3,065! @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/t0ObZ6N7Rr
— Brian Monahan, WSB (@BMonahanWSB) April 4, 2019
“We are trending in a warmer direction,” Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan said. “Tomorrow, we’ll be trending in a wetter direction.”
North Georgia will start to see some showers around sunset Thursday and some of that rain will be heavy overnight, according to the latest forecast.
TRACKING RAIN: Rain will increase across north Georgia late today -- with some heavier rain possible overnight into the early morning hours tomorrow. I don't expect any severe weather, though.
— Brian Monahan, WSB (@BMonahanWSB) April 4, 2019
I'm updating the full forecast live now on Channel 2. @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/gTx8GewGbk
“If you’ve got tickets to the Braves game, go right ahead,” Monahan said.
Conditions will be mostly dry when the team takes on the Chicago Cubs at 7:20 p.m. at SunTrust Park, he said. A 30 percent chance of rain at 8 p.m. increases to 40 percent by 10 p.m, according to Monahan.
There is, however, an 80 percent chance for heavier rain Friday morning.
That’ll make the morning commute wet, Monahan said.
“Early heads up for you,” he said. “Tomorrow's morning commute could be tough, with soggy weather moving through.”
The latest models indicate most areas will see rainfall amounts of less than one-half inch.
“By tomorrow afternoon, some drier air moves in to North Georgia and we’ll have only isolated showers across the area,” Monahan said. “Temperatures will bounce back into the low 70s.”
» 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.
» Download The Atlanta Journal-Constitution app for weather alerts on-the-go.
About the Authors
Asia Simone Burns is a watchdog reporter for the AJC. Burns was formerly an intern in AJC’s newsroom and now writes about crime. She is a graduate of Samford University and has previously reported for NPR and WABE, Atlanta’s NPR member station.
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.
