WEATHER-TRAFFIC UPDATE: Roads congest for evening commute as temps flirt with 70 degrees

ATLANTA FORECAST

Monday: High: 70

Monday night: Low: 47

Tuesday: High: 73

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

Atlanta has gotten close to reaching its expected high of 70 degrees this afternoon. The temperature has risen to 69.

Meanwhile, the Downtown Connector and Northern Perimeter has begun to clog up for the evening commute, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

Two right lanes of I-85 South are blocked by a crash near Buford Highway, the Traffic Center reported.

Not helping matters, a right lane of Peachtree Street is blocked for road work at Palisades Road, the Traffic Center reported.

In Gwinnett County, a right I-85 North lane is shut down near Ga. 211 because of a wreck, the Traffic Center reported. An alternative is to take Ga. 124.

A few roads in southwest Atlanta were previously blocked by authorities as they investigated a suspicious package at a post office on Pryor Street, which evacuated the building around 9:40 a.m., Atlanta police said.

MORE: FBI bomb squad investigating suspicious package addressed to CNN

Pryor Street and Central Avenue between Rawson Street and Fulton Street have since reopened, police said.

After a chilly start, metro Atlanta is in for a “good-looking Monday,” Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Karen Minton said. There is no rain in the forecast.

“That big area of high pressure, it’s the dominant weather feature for us today,” she said. “It’s going to keep us clear. It’s also going to allow our temperatures to come up a few more degrees.”

Atlanta should see more pleasant weather through Halloween night on Wednesday. It is expected to be dry with temperatures in the low 70s when costumed kids head out about 7 p.m. By 9 p.m., Minton expects temperatures in the mid-60s.

“It’s looking really great for Wednesday, which is Halloween, so your trick-or-treaters will not need to be covered to hide their costumes, because it’s not going to be cold,” she said.

A front is expected to roll into North Georgia on Thursday, bringing showers and storms for the afternoon and evening. Minton said there is a chance some of those storms could be severe overnight Thursday.

“The main risk at this time looks like it’s going to be damaging winds, so we'll keep you informed,” she said.

North Georgia should dry out for the weekend for the end of daylight saving time. Clocks will roll back one hour to standard time at 2 a.m. Sunday.