Waves of rain continue to cover metro Atlanta as Wednesday’s evening commute continues to crawl along.
Nearly all interstates are moving at slow speeds due to the weather, and wrecks aren't helping matters, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
Credit: WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
Credit: WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
In Cobb County, a left lane of I-20 East is blocked by a crash at Riverside Parkway, according to the Traffic Center.
Two right lanes of Ga. 400 North past Lenox Road are blocked by a crash, according to the Traffic Center.
In Roswell, the intersection of Holcomb Bridge Road and Barnwell Road is being affected by a crash, the Traffic Center reported.
Cherokee County drivers on I-575 also have to deal with a lane being blocked in both directions at Ga. 140, according to the Traffic Center.
Conditions on the roads are rough enough that the Traffic Center recommends those going to the Atlanta United match against Toronto at Mercedes-Benz Stadium at 8 p.m. take MARTA or prepare to endure an hour-long drive from Buckhead to downtown Atlanta.
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In addition, a flood watch is in effect for metro Atlanta through Thursday evening.
The National Weather Service said there is a potential for flooding in area creeks, streams and rivers, as well as roadways and low-lying areas. Thirty-four North Georgia counties are included in the watch area.
The Northside should see the most accumulation, according to Channel 2. An inch or two of rain is possible in the mountains by 11 p.m. Wednesday.
The severe weather risk ramps up overnight as a warm front lifts through the state. Metro Atlanta is under a Level 1 threat, the lowest level out of five. That could mean isolated severe storms, wind gusts up to 60 mph and a brief tornado.
“Tonight is going to be one of those nights,” Channel 2 meteorologist Brian Monahan said.
More storms are possible Thursday. But Monahan does not think Halloween will be a total washout.
During prime trick-or-treating hours, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., he expects most of the heavy rain will have cleared from northwest Georgia. Atlanta won’t be as fortunate.
“The early part of this window could be wet, but the heavy rain and strong storms are moving out,” Monahan said. The latter part of the window “looks better for trick-or-treating” in Atlanta.
The eastern suburbs look to be soggy all the way through Halloween night, he said.
At least the temperatures will cooperate the next few days. It reached 72 degrees Wednesday, and Thursday should top out at 74, according to Channel 2.
It will be short-lived.
“Then the coldest air of the season moves in,” Monahan said. “By Sunday morning, we will have freezing temperatures in the north metro.”
» For a detailed forecast, visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution weather page.
» For updated traffic information, listen to News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB and follow @ajcwsbtraffic on Twitter.
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