Rain is falling across metro Atlanta as the evening commute chugs along Tuesday.
The good news is heavy downpours haven’t materialized, with west Georgia and metro Atlanta seeing constant, but fairly light, rainfall, Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brad Nitz said.
The rain is slightly slowing traffic, but wrecks are causing more problems, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
All I-20 West lanes were held at Langhorn Street to clear a crash from the left shoulder, which created lengthy delays spanning to downtown Atlanta, the Traffic Center reported.
I-85 North is also recovering after a crash was cleared from the right lane near Indian Trail Road in Gwinnett County, the Traffic Center reported. Delays span near the Perimeter, which is celebrating its 50th birthday Tuesday.
In Cobb County, where rainfall is slightly heavier, a crash has shut down the southbound lanes of Austell Road at Clay Road, affecting several surface streets, the Traffic Center reported. Floyd Road is recommended as an alternate.
Rain may not make for ideal driving conditions, but with most of North Georgia in some form of drought, we’ll take it.
By Wednesday morning, Atlanta should pick up an inch of rainfall, Channel 2 reported. Some of the southern suburbs could get 2 to 3 inches.
“Just what we need to help out with our drought situation,” Channel 2 meteorologist Eboni Deon said. “It’s not going to erase the drought, but it’s definitely going to help.”
Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM
Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM
The rain should stick around through the evening and overnight hours, according to Channel 2. After some morning showers Wednesday, North Georgia will swap one weather system for another.
“We have one frontal boundary stalled to our south,” Deon said. “That's the focus for today's rain. But we have another cold front on the move as we head into Wednesday, and it’s behind that it’s going to drop our rain chances down.”
As North Georgia dries out, it will cool down. Deon said Atlanta could see morning lows in the 40s Thursday and Friday.
“We’re keeping it cool Thursday, below normal,” Deon said. “Sixties return for afternoon highs, and then we'll rebound as we get into the weekend.”
» For a detailed forecast, visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution weather page.
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