Congestion picks up as Atlanta continues to dry out after Michael

ATLANTA FORECAST

Thursday: High: 78

Thursday night: Low: 50

Friday: High: 73

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

The evening commute is “a vastly different scenario” than what metro Atlanta experienced Thursday morning, Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Katie Walls said.

The morning drive saw the remnants of Tropical Storm Michael bring showers and traffic tangles into the city. Since then, Michael has moved on to the Carolinas and left Georgia to its cleanup effort.

MORE: Damage in Georgia is 'phenomenal'

The evening commute, however, still has a few issues and backups are starting to pop up, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

Ga. 400 North has two right lanes blocked to clean up chicken debris near Northridge Road, the Traffic Center reported.

Also, several roads in Paulding County remain closed due to storm damage, according to local authorities.

A part of Woodrow Kay Road near Proctor Road collapsed after heavy flooding. Gore Lakes Road off Mt. Olivet Road is also closed until further notice because of roadway damage, Paulding sheriff’s deputies said.

In Cherokee County, Epperson Road is blocked off at Scott Road while crews work to clear a downed tree, the Traffic Center reported.

With Georgia now clear of Michael, metro Atlanta is not at risk of tropical storm-force winds. According to Channel 2, the region should continue to experience wind gusts.

“The tropical storm warnings and tornado and flash flood watches have been cleared across all of North Georgia,” Channel 2 meteorologist Brad Nitz said. “Gusts near 30 mph today will continue, but the threat for heavy rain and damaging winds has ended.”

Conditions should continue to wind down as the storm moves into North Carolina and offshore early Friday. The chance of rain dropped from 60 percent this morning to 20 percent for the rest of Thursday.

Atlanta should continue to see partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the upper-70s, according to Channel 2. North Georgia should be done with the rain for a while.

A cold front slides into the state behind Michael on Friday, bringing dry conditions and chilly temperatures.

“As we head into the weekend,” Channel 2 meteorologist Karen Minton said, “we're looking at sunshine on Friday and Saturday and most of Sunday, with morning lows in the 50s and highs in the low to mid-70s.”