WEATHER-TRAFFIC UPDATE: Congestion picking up as evening commute temps reach low 70s

ATLANTA FORECAST

Tuesday: High: 72

Tuesday night: Low: 52

Wednesday: High: 76

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

It’s been a long day of road closures and police activity around metro Atlanta, and drivers now have to contend with new wrecks and slowdowns during the evening commute.

A crash in Fulton County on Ga. 400 North at Holcomb Bridge Road is briefly blocking all lanes to clear the wreck, but delays are building, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

A SWAT situation in Marietta on Arkose Drive previously shut down that road and parts of Austell Road. Around 3:45 p.m., a suspect was taken into custody, and the situation was cleared, police said.

MORE: Hostage situation over in Cobb neighborhood

Atlanta police evacuated portions of Peachtree Center mall and also closed International Boulevard between Peachtree Center Avenue and Peachtree Street because of a suspicious package report.

RELATED: Suspicious package turns out to be book bags with school supplies

However, it was discovered the package was book bags filled with school supplies, and the roads have reopened, police said.

DeKalb County recovered from a tractor-trailer overturning on the westbound I-285 ramp to Peachtree Industrial Boulevard this morning, spilling its paper rolls and blocking several lanes for hours.

MORE: Overturned tractor-trailer blocked I-285 ramp in DeKalb

However, a new crash blocked two right lanes of I-285 South near Memorial Drive. That wreck has also since been cleared.

At least the weather is cooperating.

While North Georgia woke up to cool temperatures, the region is warming up considerably this afternoon, according to Channel 2 Action News. Some spots in the mountains started in the 30s, while Atlanta started in the 40s, the news station reported. Temperatures across North Georgia were 5 to 16 degrees cooler than Monday morning, Channel 2 meteorologist Karen Minton said.

But with plenty of sunshine on tap for Tuesday, Minton said metro Atlanta can expect a nice increase in temperatures. It’s 71 degrees in Atlanta.

“High pressure is in place,” she said. “It is going to keep us dry for today, and warm, too, with many areas rising into the lower 70s this afternoon.”

More dry, warm weather is expected Wednesday for Halloween, with a high of 76 degrees. When most trick-or-treaters begin their candy grab about 7 p.m., Minton expects temperatures to be in the lower 70s. By 9 p.m., it should still be in the upper 60s.

“It’s going to be nice for us during the day tomorrow for Halloween, although clouds will begin to increase as we go through Wednesday,” she said.

Minton said a “weather-maker” cold front is on its way to the state and is expected to bring showers and some storms Thursday. The timing of the rain is still uncertain, she said.

Western metro Atlanta counties and Middle Georgia could be at risk for severe weather when the front rolls through, according to Channel 2.

“We need to watch for the potential for some damaging winds, perhaps even that isolated tornado in the area,” Minton said.

Those regions will also see the most rain accumulation. Minton expects 1 to 2 inches in that area, with lighter rain to the east.

“Some of the models bring it in late in the day on Thursday,” she said. “Others have it slowed down about 4-6 hours, so our timing may be adjusted.”

Cooler weather is on the way on the other side of the front, with weekend highs in the mid-60s.

“It cools off and it is really going to be quite pleasant,” Minton said. “Just a little chilly in the mornings.”