WEATHER-TRAFFIC UPDATE: Atlanta reaches 90 degrees for first time on this date since 1954

ATLANTA FORECAST

Wednesday High: 88

Wednesday night: Low: 69

Thursday: High: 89

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

While wrecks, gas leaks and construction stifle interstates, Atlanta can marvel at the heat outside right now.

Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport reported reaching 90 degrees around 4:45 p.m., which is the hottest Atlanta has been on Oct. 4 since 1954.

Don’t mistake that for the record, though. Channel 2 Action News reported the record high for this date was 94 degrees in 1911.

Drivers likely don’t care about the heat and are too busy dealing with evening commute traffic, which has been fairly brutal so far.

A gas leak in Cherokee County is especially causing problems, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

Ga. 92 west has all but a left turn lane shut down at Wiley Bridge Road, which is causing heavy delays, according to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. A timeline for when the leak will be fixed and lane reopened hasn’t been released.

In DeKalb County, a I-285 North crash near I-20 has three left lanes blocked, and delays are building fast, according to the Traffic Center. Nearby, a crash on I-285 East near the I-85 North ramp is also causing delays back to Ga. 400, the Traffic Center reported.

Surface streets are also crowded. Construction on Peachtree Road at Pharr Road blocks a northbound right lane, the Traffic Center reported.

Remember the feeling of crisp, cool fall air? Neither does North Georgia.

Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Karen Minton said temperatures are not expected to come down anytime soon.

“As we head through the day, it’s going to get hot,” she said. “I know some of you don’t want to let go of summer, and you don’t have to.”

By Friday, it should be a sweltering 90 degrees in Atlanta, according to the latest forecast.

A ridge of high pressure is keeping rain chances down and temperatures up in North Georgia, Minton said.

“Just a few clouds will start to filter in over far northeast Georgia as the air is lifting up over the higher elevations,” she said. “A little bit of moisture is starting to work its way back to this region, so you’ll see some showers here. But everybody else is going to be locked out because of that broad area of high pressure.”

Minton said Atlanta will need to keep out the summer gear a little longer. Temps are expected to remain above average into the middle of October. This week, we are about 10 degrees above average.

“If you are itching to pull out the fall sweaters, boots and scarves ... don’t,” she said.

The heat will back off some in the next few days. Sunday is expected to be cooler with the return of some clouds, and Minton expects high temperatures will be in the range of 81 to 83 degrees by Wednesday of next week.

» For updated traffic information, listen to News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB and follow @ajcwsbtraffic on Twitter.