WEATHER-TRAFFIC UPDATE: Cobb isn’t alone; traffic is bad nearly everywhere

ATLANTA FORECAST

Thursday: High: 65

Thursday night: Low: 54

Friday: High: 67

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

It’s been a rough day for Cobb County traffic, but the rest of metro Atlanta has joined it for a slow Thursday evening commute.

Only one left lane of Covington Highway is open in both directions near Bethune Middle School after a crash in DeKalb County, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

Three southbound right lanes of the Downtown Connector are blocked near I-20 because of a crash, the Traffic Center reported.

A left lane of Ga. 400 South near Lenox Road is blocked by a crash, according to the Traffic Center.

Two right lanes of the Perimeter’s outer loop near Cobb Parkway were previously blocked because of police activity, the Traffic Center reported.

MORE: Cops: 2 adults driving stolen car with missing teen inside arrested on I-285

Drivers are also advised to avoid the Huntington Trace Drive area as a SWAT situation is ongoing in Smyrna.

RELATED: Estranged husband, second man barricaded in Cobb home with 2 kids; SWAT on scene

It doesn’t help that Atlanta United plays a match at Kennesaw State at 8 p.m., meaning volume toward Kennesaw is heavier than usual, according to the Traffic Center.

A soggy metro Atlanta isn’t getting a chance to dry out, as a few light showers continue to fall across metro Atlanta on Thursday, according to Channel 2 Action News.

A quarter-inch to a half-inch of rainfall accumulated in some spots after Thursday morning’s heavier showers, Channel 2 meteorologist Brian Monahan said.

Joel Meyer (left) did not have an umbrella Thursday morning for his commute from the Buckhead MARTA station to the Atlanta Tech Village. JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

A cold front to the west is driving the showers, Monahan said. While there were a few rumbles of thunder, North Georgia did not see any severe weather Thursday morning.

Even if it’s a little wet, Atlanta is warm. It’s 64 degrees, and the city should see 65 before the day is over, according to Channel 2.

The rain is helping to keep pollen counts in the moderate range. The count Thursday morning was 72 particles per cubic meter of air.

Another batch of rain moves in late Thursday, Monahan said. It will be a little drier Friday, and Monahan said Saturday should be the best weekend day for outdoor plans. Rain could be heavy across North Georgia on Sunday.

“A big shot of cold air is coming in,” Monahan said. “When we go from warm temperatures like this into an arctic blast, you're going to have rain, you're going to have storms.”

There is a chance for an isolated strong to severe storm over the weekend as temperatures drop, according to Channel 2. By Monday, North Georgia could see morning lows in the 40s. By Wednesday, Monahan said temps could be in the teens and 20s.