WEATHER-TRAFFIC UPDATE: Volume, wrecks increasing delays throughout metro Atlanta

ATLANTA FORECAST

Wednesday: High: 59

Wednesday night: Low: 46

Thursday: High: 54

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

Problems on the roads are beginning to mount as the evening commute picks up steam.

Thankfully, most of the delays are minor wrecks and due to the increased volume of drivers making the trip home from work, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

The second left lane of I-20 East is blocked near Boulevard in DeKalb County, the Traffic Center reported.

In Clayton County, a wreck between a motorcycle and cement truck is affecting traffic at the intersection of Tara Boulevard and Tara Road, Clayton County police said. One lane of traffic is moving because the scene hasn’t been cleared.

MORE: Motorcyclist pinned by cement truck after Clayton County accident

Traffic should be significantly better through Buckhead now that a broken, unauthorized crane has been removed from Peachtree Road at Pharr Road. The crane made a mess of things for several days, but the Georgia Department of Transportation worked with a construction company to move it Tuesday night, according to the Traffic Center.

Metro Atlanta enjoyed a dry morning Wednesday, likely the last one it will see this week.

Rain is expected to push into North Georgia from the southwest after midnight Wednesday, according to Channel 2 Action News. There is a 90 percent chance of rain most of Thursday and a 70 percent chance of showers Friday, although Channel 2 meteorologist Karen Minton said they will mostly be confined to the morning hours.

For Wednesday, North Georgia should stay dry. Clouds are expected to increase throughout the day, and highs are predicted in the mid- to upper 50s, according to the latest forecast. Only a few spots could reach into the 60s Wednesday, Minton said. It’s 58 degrees in Atlanta as of 5 p.m.

Ben Snowden, 19, one of Santa's helpers, keeps warm by playing hacky sack at Santa on the Square in Marietta on Wednesday morning. JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

Then the rain is expected to start.

“You’ll wake up to it (Thursday) morning,” she said. “It’s going to be with you off and on during the day ... Friday we’ll see another round as well. And colder, too.”

The current projections show rain will be heaviest for eastern metro Atlanta counties Thursday, Minton said.

While the morning and lunchtime drives will likely see lots of activity, areas to the west and south could find a lull in the showers around the early evening hours. That’s only round one, Minton said.

Friday should see another wet morning commute, but this time it will be colder, according to Channel 2. Winds from the northwest are expected to bring in cold air, and Minton predicts much of North Georgia won’t get out of the 40s.

Wind gusts of up to 30 mph are possible, she said. For the northeast corner of the state, it could mean winter precipitation.

“Late evening (Friday), this area could see a little wraparound of cold air coming in, squeezing out the moisture, bringing in a little light snow or flurries,” Minton said.

Significant accumulation is not in the forecast.

North Georgia should dry out for the weekend for chilly morning lows and highs in the 50s for the afternoon, according to Channel 2. Minton expects the weather will hold in the same pattern through Christmas.

“We're looking at a Christmas Eve day and Christmas Day with our temperatures pretty mild and also mainly dry,” she said.