ATLANTA FORECAST
Friday: High: 91
Friday night: Low: 67
Saturday: High: 90
» For a detailed forecast, visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution weather page.
A few isolated thunderstorms have begun to form around the metro area, specifically north Atlanta, Channel 2 Action News reported. The storms are expected to run out of steam pretty quickly as the sun gets closer to setting.
Meanwhile, two gas leaks are still causing traffic problems in Midtown and Cherokee County.
The Midtown leak previously shut down all lanes on Northside Drive near Deering Road, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center. Atlanta Gas Light confirmed it is a 4-inch main pipe. The Georgia Department of Transportation said all lanes reopened a little after 7:30 p.m.
It’s recommended to use Howell Mill Road as an alternative, and no timeline has been given for when the leak will be repaired and the road fully reopened.
Atlanta Gas Light is also working to repair a leak at the intersection of Bells Ferry Road and Towne Lake Parkway in Cherokee County, Channel 2 Action News reported. Repairs are expected to be completed by noon Saturday.
The Traffic Center also reports that construction has closed a left lane on I-285 North between South Cobb Drive and Paces Ferry Road.
Mercifully, metro Atlanta got a break from the recent pattern of daily storms this afternoon, even though a few have popped up this evening.
The rain chance is a low 20 percent, according to the latest forecast from Channel 2 Action News.
This week’s storm pattern is the latest one to drench Georgia, which has had 28.9 inches of rain so far this year, according to measurements at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The average for this time of year is 24.18, Channel 2 Chief meteorologist Glenn Burns said.
“Now we're getting into the wettest part of the summer,” Burns said. “July is the wettest month of the year where we could average 7 inches of rain.”
The chance of rain goes up to 40 percent Saturday and then to 60 percent Sunday and Monday. The temperature should remain in the low 90s.
“Scattered afternoon storms return to the picture Saturday afternoon with a better opportunity for more coverage Sunday afternoon,” Channel 2 meteorologist Katie Walls said. “At this time, the July 4th holiday will involve afternoon scattered storms, typical summer pattern. Highs remain in the upper 80s, low 90s through the holiday.”
However, don’t spend the drier periods this weekend swimming in the Chattahoochee River, Burns warned. All this rain has caused another health advisory because of high E. coli counts.
The Georgia Department of Transportation has a long to-do list this weekend, and projects will begin later Friday. Traffic should be heavy through Cobb County all weekend at the I-75/I-285 interchange due to a resurfacing project, the Traffic Center reported.
» For updated traffic information, listen to News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB and follow @ajcwsbtraffic on Twitter.
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