Atlanta has hit the mid-90s, but it feels a little more comfortable than it has in recent days.
The city is at 95 degrees, passing the expected high by two degrees, according to Channel 2 Action News. However, humidity is only 36%, so the heat index is only a degree or two higher than the actual temperature, which couldn’t be said for the past few days.
“The temperature for the 9th consecutive day has reached the mid-90s for Atlanta,” Channel 2 meteorologist Brad Nitz said.
Much like the temperature outside, metro Atlanta's interstates are hot, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
The Downtown Connector is recovering after all northbound lanes were briefly held to clear a wreck just before 10th Street, the Traffic Center reported. All lanes have reopened, but heavy delays remain.
A crew is blocking a right southbound lane of Jonesboro Road at I-285, according to the Traffic Center. Earlier in the afternoon, several lanes were blocked, gridlocking the area.
In DeKalb County, ongoing maintenance on railroad crossings has several roads closed in the Tucker area. Frazier Road is shut down near Lavista Road, as well as Brockett Road near Lawrenceville Highway and Montreal Road between Lawrenceville Highway and Lavista Road.
Northlake Parkway or Lawrenceville Highway are good alternates until the work wraps up Saturday morning, according to the Traffic Center.
Drier air behind a cold front is helping lower the humidity, Channel 2 meteorologist Katie Walls said. As a result, the numbers on the thermometers will more accurately reflect what it feels like outside.
“Temperatures, yes, they will be on the warm side, but this is how they will actually feel,” Walls said. “We won’t be dealing with those heat indexes running five to even 15 degrees hotter than the temperatures themselves.”
The front is currently situated toward the south and east of the city. In its wake, Walls said high pressure is settling in. North Georgia won’t really reap the benefits until later Thursday.
Dew points, the measure of moisture in the air, have dropped considerably. The dew point currently sits at 64 degrees.
With the heat and high pressure, metro Atlanta is under a Code Orange air quality alert Thursday. Conditions are expected to worsen through the afternoon.
RELATED: What is a Code Orange? Smog alert issued for Atlanta
“If you are asthmatic, if you have sensitive lungs, maybe you have heart or lung issues, you are advised to limit your time outside across metro Atlanta,” Walls said.
The good news is a cold front also means lower rain chances. Walls said commuters won’t have to worry about big storms impacting the evening drive like the past few days. Rain is less than 10% likely Thursday and Friday, according to Channel 2.
Rain chances go up for the weekend, however. Showers and storms are 20% likely on Saturday and 30% likely on Sunday, according to the latest forecast.
» 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.
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