WEATHER-TRAFFIC UPDATE: Delays clear up ahead of evening commute; colder weather moving in

ATLANTA FORECAST

Wednesday: High: 51

Wednesday night: Low: 28

Thursday: High: 44

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

Atlanta’s roads look mostly clear this afternoon ahead of the evening commute, despite a few continuing areas of construction.

In DeKalb County, roadwork blocks an eastbound right lane at Panola Road, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

Traffic conditions are improved in Gwinnett County, where a gas main break shut down a busy intersection for hours Tuesday. While the city of Lilburn said the leak at Lester Road/Pleasant Hill Road and Lawrenceville Highway was repaired by 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Traffic Center is still reporting some trouble.

Work continues and Lester Road remains shut down.

After the evening commute, expect to hear the word “cold” frequently, because North Georgia is going to get chilly.

Temperatures are in the low 50s in Atlanta, Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan said, but it’s not going to get any warmer and should dip below freezing overnight.

“It’s going to stay colder than we have seen for quite some time,” Channel 2 meteorologist Karen Minton said.

In preparation for the below-freezing temperatures, the city of Atlanta will open an emergency warming center at 6 p.m. at the Old Adamsville Recreation Center at 3404 Delmar Lane. It will close Thursday morning at 10 a.m. and reopen at 6 p.m. Thursday ahead of another cold night.

Temperatures have been running about 12½ degrees warmer than average for the start of January, Monahan said. On Wednesday morning, temperatures stayed above the average low of 34 degrees for this time of year, but Atlantans should wake up to a frigid 28 degrees Thursday.

Not only is a jet stream helping to keep numbers low, Monahan said, Wednesday will also be windy. The National Weather Service has extended a wind advisory for northeast Georgia through 7 a.m. Thursday.

While Atlanta is not under the advisory, Minton said it will still be breezy across the metro area with gusts up to 25 mph. In the mountains, the winds are expected to be stronger, with gusts up to 35 mph possible. Watch for falling tree limbs, she said.

“Not as strong here, but strong enough,” Minton said. “If you drive a smaller vehicle, or a high-profile one, keep both hands firmly on that steering wheel because you could get blown about a bit as those gusts come in.”

Dry conditions should continue Wednesday and carry through the end of the work week. For the weekend, Channel 2 meteorologists are tracking the potential for a wintry mix in spots across North Georgia.

High pressure and moisture moving in Saturday should just mean a cold rain for most, but some could see a “brief winter mix here or there,” Minton said.

“It’s not going to last too long, just wanted to make you aware of it,” she said. “Then the rain comes in, and it’s a cold rain. It’s going to feel really uncomfortable.”

The projected high Saturday is a “raw” 43 degrees, Minton said.

There is a 60 percent chance of some showers lingering through Sunday morning, with a few more possible into the afternoon, according to the latest forecast.

Credit: Channel 2 Action News

Credit: Channel 2 Action News

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