WEATHER-TRAFFIC UPDATE: 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.
RELATED: Michael leaves Atlanta with downed trees, power outages, road closures
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.
#TRAVELADVISORY Sandy Springs/Roswell: Chicken Debris...GA-400/nb past Northridge (Exit 6). 2 right lanes blocked for cleanup. Heavy delays. Use Hwy 9 as an alternate. #ATLtraffic pic.twitter.com/siNrbJuScg
— AJC WSB Traffic (@ajcwsbtraffic) October 11, 2018
Also, several roads in Paulding County remain closed due to storm damage, according to local authorities.
Several roads in Paulding are closed due to damage from flooding from #HuricaneMichael. #ATLTraffic pic.twitter.com/v39lMC5RHI
— Mike Shields WSB (@MikeShieldsWSB) October 11, 2018
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.
Epperson Road has been blocked off Scott Road in Cherokee County. Utility crews working due to a tree that came down. #StormWatchOn2 pic.twitter.com/ovWKyQKH5G
— Jason Durden (@JasonDurdenWSB) October 11, 2018
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.”
ALL CLEAR:
— Brad Nitz (@BradNitzWSB) October 11, 2018
The Tropical Storm Warnings and Tornado and Flash Flood Watches have been cleared across all of North Georgia.
Gusts near 30 mph today will continue but the threat for heavy rain and damaging winds has ended.
Next up...cool fall weather!
☀️ 🍁
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.”
» For updated traffic information, listen to News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB and follow @ajcwsbtraffic on Twitter.
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About the Authors
Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives.
