WEATHER-TRAFFIC: Gwinnett recovers after car fire; gas main breaks affect Cobb, Cherokee

Car fires, gas leaks and wrecks — oh my!

Wednesday's evening commute got off to a messy start across metro Atlanta, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center. Let's break down the traffic troubles county by county.

In Gwinnett County, a car fire and wreck blocked two left lanes of I-85 North at Ga. 317, according to the Traffic Center. All lanes have since reopened, but delays remain heavy in both directions.

In Cherokee County, a gas leak has blocked Railroad Street in downtown Canton and is forcing businesses in the area to be evacuated, according to the city’s police department. It’s unclear when it will reopen.

In Cobb County, a gas main break is affecting surface streets, according to the county’s department of transportation. Mabry Road is closed between Shallowford Road and Bittersweet Drive. Cobb police estimated it could take more than three hours to make the repairs, which would be about 7:30 p.m.

Nearby, all lanes of I-285 South were briefly held at Paces Ferry Road to clear a crash, but delays linger back to Dunwoody, according to the Traffic Center.

In Fulton County, a stall is blocking two left lanes of the northbound Downtown Connector at Courtland Street, according to the Traffic Center.

Only three days this month have fallen short of 90 degrees, and Wednesday was not one of them. However, there is some relief coming this weekend.

Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan said temperatures will actually fall below average Sunday for a projected high of 86 degrees. North Georgia has a few more 90-degree days to get through until then.

Wednesday was the 17th straight day in the 90s, the 18th overall in August, for Atlanta, according to Channel 2.

There was not much in the way of rain Wednesday to tamp down the heat. Metro Atlanta remains in the low 90s, with Atlanta hovering about two degrees below the expected high of 93 degrees, according to Channel 2. That’s five degrees above the average temperature for this time of year.

“Today is actually going to be a pretty dry day for a lot of us,” Monahan said.

Scattered downpours are 30% likely to develop by early evening. Monahan said there won’t be a lot of storms, but with high humidity, rain is possible anywhere in North Georgia.

Showers and storms are still 30% likely at 7:20 p.m. for the first pitch of the Braves game against the Miami Marlins at SunTrust Park. The chance does not drop back to 20% until 10 p.m., when temperatures should be in the mid-80s, Monahan said.

“Should be overall a good night for a ballgame out at SunTrust Park,” he said.

However, rainfall near Helen has prompted the National Weather Service to issue a flash flood warning for White County until 10:15 p.m.

Monahan said Thursday will see a few more clouds, which will help cool things down a bit. North Georgia will still be pretty dry for the Thursday morning drive, but he said a few more showers will pop up over the Northside and the mountain counties during the afternoon commute.

“Even more rain is coming our way as we move into the weekend, as temperatures start to drop,” he said.

The rain chance holds at 40% for Saturday but jumps to 60% Sunday, when the afternoon high is a projected 86 degrees, according to the latest forecast.

» 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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