WEATHER-TRAFFIC UPDATE: Delays begin to build in metro Atlanta

Thursday: High: 88

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

Delays are beginning to build across metro Atlanta as the evening commute enters full swing, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

One lane of I-85 South at Ga. 400 is blocked by a crash, the Traffic Center reported. Delays have built to several minutes nearby.

Road work on Ga. 316 near Sugarloaf Parkway in Gwinnett County has finished, reopening a left lane, according to the Traffic Center. Traffic on the interstate remains fairly light compared to the Northern Perimeter and Downtown Connector.

A tropical depression is dousing our neighbors to the west, but Georgia should be hot and mostly dry Wednesday.

It’s the same weather forecast as Tuesday and the day before, and it shouldn’t change much for the rest of the week, according to Channel 2 Action News. While Tropical Depression Gordon is sending lots of clouds over North Georgia, Channel 2 meteorologist Brian Monahan said an area of high pressure is tamping down the rain.

“Gordon is just a little bit off to our west, but really hard to tell outside of some clouds,” Monahan said. “We’ve had no rain from the system and we will not see any rain directly associated with Gordon.”

That’s not to say Georgia will be rain-free. While parts of Alabama, Mississippi and Florida could see up to 8 inches, Georgia could see a half-inch of rain, according to Channel 2.

“Planning for a couple of showers through the afternoon, but like yesterday, like Labor Day, there’s just not going to be much rain to deal with this afternoon,” Monahan said.

Rain chances stay in the 20 to 30 percent range through the week, which Monahan said means showers should be isolated.

“Our rain chances stay on the low side and that’s going to continue,” he said. “Thursday morning, we’re dry. The afternoon, though, a little better chance for a couple of storms around.”

Average highs are in the mid-80s for early September, but Wednesday, “we’re going to be way above that,” Monahan said.

The current temperature is 86 degrees.

“With the clouds, temperatures (are) way warmer than they should be for this time of year,” he said. “We should be in the mid-80s. We're going to be close to 90 this afternoon.”

Beginning next week, a cold front will approach the state, bringing a better chance for more widespread rain and temperatures closer to average, according to Channel 2.

Credit: Channel 2 Action News

Credit: Channel 2 Action News

Low rain chances and warm weather means great construction conditions for the Georgia Department of Transportation.

GDOT will temporarily close multiple lanes on Ga. 400 South overnight Wednesday to Friday. Closures will begin at 9 p.m. and continue to 5 a.m. Two right lanes and two left lanes will close alternately on Ga. 400 South at Mount Vernon Highway.

Overnight lane closures on I-985 will begin Wednesday at 7 p.m. and continue through Friday at 5:30 a.m. At least one southbound lane will be closed between Mundy Mill Road and Spout Springs Road so that crews can place rock on the new northbound entrance ramps at the Exit 14 interchange, according to GDOT.

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

» Download The Atlanta Journal-Constitution app for weather alerts on-the-go.