WEATHER-TRAFFIC UPDATE: Isolated downpours pop up during evening commute

ATLANTA FORECAST 

Wednesday: High: 89

Wednesday night: Low: 73

Thursday: High: 90

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

The evening commute is in full swing in conjunction with evacuees fleeing Hurricane Florence and making their way through metro Atlanta.

Conditions on the North Carolina-South Carolina coast are expected to worsen Wednesday night, according to Channel 2 Action News, meaning metro Atlanta could see the bulk of evacuation traffic this evening.

A few isolated downpours have popped up near downtown Atlanta, which aren’t helping matters, Channel 2 meteorologist Brad Nitz said.

Construction is also affecting traffic on the Downtown Connector and surface streets, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

On Peachtree Street, two lanes are closed at 26th street, and one lane of Techwood Drive between the Downtown Connector and 14th Street is closed, according to the Traffic Center.

On I-20 East, four lanes are blocked by a crash near McDaniel Street, the Traffic Center reported.

A stationary front, not Florence, will be the cause for any rain Wednesday evening, Channel 2 meteorologist Karen Minton said.

“Friday into Saturday is the time frame when (Florence) should be right along the North Carolina-South Carolina coast,” Minton said.

“It’s going to be a big rainmaker wherever it goes,” she said.

Wednesday’s rain chance in Atlanta is 40 percent and humidity remains high, according to Channel 2.

“We are going to increasingly pick up an easterly flow as Florence gets closer and closer to the coast,” Minton said. “But today, showers and some storms will pop up here and there. Some heavy rainmakers, slow-moving, lightning and also some strong gusts of wind are certainly possible.”

It shouldn’t be a washout, so traffic likely won’t be heavily affected by any popup rain, Channel 2 reported.

Temperatures will also remain higher than average with an expected high of 89 degrees, according to the forecast. The humid air should take the heat index into the mid-90s.

The rain chance dips to 20 percent Thursday before dropping to below 10 percent Friday and Saturday.

Rain is expected to move into metro Atlanta on Sunday night, according to the latest forecast. There is a 30 percent chance.

“This may change completely depending on where Florence goes,” Minton said.

That’s the opposite of most of the Southeast as the storm keeps a steady pace toward the Carolinas and Virginia.

By the time it reaches the East Coast, however, Florence should be a Category 3 storm and still considered a major hurricane. A weakened system could reach northeast Georgia by Sunday, bringing about one-half inch of rain to metro Atlanta and light winds.

HURRICANE FLORENCE COVERAGE:

Where is Florence now?
Georgia DOT prepares for Florence