WEATHER-TRAFFIC: Afternoon showers a sign of things to come for summer commuters

Showers and heavy downpours caused delays across metro Atlanta on Tuesday afternoon, and the rainy pattern is expected to linger through the first few weeks of summer, according to Channel 2 Action News.

A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for parts of DeKalb, Gwinnett, Walton, Newton and Rockdale counties earlier this afternoon, but it has since expired.

“We’re dealing with our summer storm pattern that’s now underway,” Channel 2 meteorologist Glenn Burns said. “Better get used to this, each and every day we’ll have a chance of showers and storms.”

Burns said the pop-up showers could continue on and off through July. Luckily, Tuesday’s severe weather largely missed the evening commute.

Some wrecks are still causing delays, however.

In Cobb County, a crash blocking one lane of I-575 north of Barrett Parkway is causing delays all the way back to I-75, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

An earlier crash in the southbound lanes of Ga. 400 has been moved, but delays remain in Sandy Springs.

There is a 70 percent chance of isolated showers through the rest of the evening rush, Channel 2 meteorologist Brian Monahan said.

Because visibility could be reduced, drivers are encouraged to switch on their headlights when using their windshield wipers.

“Not everybody is going to see the rain, but where we do, there is the risk for some heavier downpours,” Monahan said.

Even with all the rain, temperatures topped out in the mid-80s Tuesday afternoon, according to Channel 2. It was 78 degrees in Atlanta as storms moved through at 5:30 p.m.

While the rain chance is cut in half for Wednesday at 30 percent, Monahan expects additional accumulation. Areas from Athens to Gainesville and north to Blairsville could see more than 2 inches of rainfall by Wednesday night, with isolated amounts of 4 to 6 inches in the mountains.

The rain chance goes back up to 60 percent Thursday, according to Channel 2.

“We'll see that continuing through Wednesday, Thursday as well will be kind of stormy, and then Thursday night and Friday we've got a cold front moving in,” he said. “We will be drier for the first day of summer.”

Heat is building through the weekend with afternoon highs in the 90s, he said, and storms remain in the forecast but should be isolated.