Drivers in Atlanta traffic have had a lot to deal with Friday.
First it was flooding and storm damage, then it was freeway and interstate closures for Vice President Mike Pence‘s visit and now it’s several wrecks during the evening commute.
Also, the rain is back, which isn’t helping.
All I-285 East lanes past Bouldercrest Road were blocked by a crash in DeKalb County, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center. Only a right lane remains blocked, but heavy delays linger.
Three right lanes of I-75 North are blocked by a crash at North Marietta Parkway, and delays are quickly growing past South Marietta Parkway, the Traffic Center reported.
In Hall County, I-985 is recovering after all northbound lanes were blocked by a crash, the Traffic Center reported.
The Downtown Connector is very slow, and a southbound crash near University Avenue that has a left lane blocked is only adding to the delays, the Traffic Center reported.
These all come just after Northside traffic had recovered from Pence’s visit, which stifled traffic between Marietta and Buckhead late Friday morning and just after noon.
As he traveled between Dobbins Air Force Reserve Base in Marietta to the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Buckhead, I-75, I-285 East and Ga. 400 South were all blocked for his motorcade.
Pence was the headline speaker at a conference at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Buckhead. After speaking, Pence’s motorcade affected metro Atlanta traffic again as he traveled to Rome.
RELATED: Pence arrives in Atlanta as democratic socialists gather
Slow-moving thunderstorms swept through the region Thursday night. Most of the rain activity tapered off by lunch, but more storms are beginning to pop up, Channel 2 Action News reported.
“I think a little less rain than we saw yesterday, but still the same impacts, the same threats we saw yesterday afternoon,” Channel 2 meteorologist Brian Monahan said. “That means you've got to be ready for heavy rain, a lot of lightning and even some hail and gusty wind.”
Many in North Georgia woke up to storm damage Friday morning. There were several reports of downed trees and power lines.
Credit: ALYSSA POINTER / ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM
Credit: ALYSSA POINTER / ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM
The storms dumped inches of heavy rain in parts of metro Atlanta overnight. Some spots in north Atlanta and DeKalb County picked up more than 3 inches, Monahan said.
In Cobb County, the East-West Connector is closed at Floyd Road while crews work to clean up downed power lines and power poles. Authorities are asking drivers to avoid the area and use Clay Road instead.
Heavy rain also caused a washout of Randall Farm Road north of Vinings Forest Way. Cobb County Department of Transportation crews are on scene, but the road will remain closed until further notice, authorities said.
Monahan said the rain won’t be as widespread as Thursday, and it should move out in time for your Friday night plans.
“We've got this front draped across North Georgia, a lot of clouds around it, and along this front scattered showers and storms,” he said. “A change tonight compared to the last couple of nights ... the rain chances are going to drop as we move through late tonight.”
North Georgia is forecast to begin drying out around 8 p.m. and stay dry through midnight. The break won’t last long, however. Rain is in the forecast every day for the next five days, and more downpours and storms are on the way, according to Channel 2.
“As our rain chance goes up, temperatures go up, too,” Monahan said.
Afternoon highs will stick to the mid- to upper 80s through the weekend. Sunday looks to be the wetter of the two days with a 60% chance of showers and storms. By Sunday evening, Monahan said much of North Georgia could get an inch or more of rainfall.
“That looks like a lot of rain over the weekend, but I do want to let you know there will be some dry times,” he said. “You will be able to get in those outdoor plans.”
» For a detailed forecast, visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution weather page.
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