A stormy lunchtime and afternoon have come to an end for metro Atlanta, but drivers are still feeling the lingering effects.
Emergency roadwork, wet pavement and downed trees are slowing down nearly every corner of metro Atlanta, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center. As a result, the evening commute is slow, and those trying to get home before trick-or-treating begins may be sitting in lots of traffic.
Bartow, Cherokee and Cobb counties remain especially slow after all I-75 North lanes were blocked for emergency sign repair at Glade Road, the Traffic Center reported. All lanes have reopened, but delays are extensive.
Traffic within the Perimeter is also struggling, and a stalled vehicle on I-20 West at I-285 is not helping, the Traffic Center reported.
A downed tree in Sandy Springs killed a person after it landed on a car at Mt. Paran Road near Jett Road, Channel 2 Action News reported. Sandy Springs police said the road will be closed for several hours.
MORE: Person killed after tree lands on car in Sandy Springs
In the same city, downed trees and power lines have blocked Johnson Ferry Road between Abernathy Road and Sandy Springs Circle, the city said in a tweet. The road is expected to be closed for multiple hours.
The only good news on the roads is that it’s no longer raining. By 4 p.m., most of metro Atlanta’s showers dried up as the heaviest rain entered South Carolina.
Channel 2 Action News chief meteorologist Glenn Burns said that will be the last rain Atlanta will see tonight, meaning trick-or-treaters won’t have to worry about umbrellas or ponchos.
RELATED: Mother Nature planning a treat for your cool Halloween night — no rain
A flood watch does remain in effect for most of North Georgia through Thursday evening.
Some big changes are in the forecast over the next 12 hours. Temperatures started out in the 70s, but the rain has quickly cooled the city to 52 degrees.
“That’s a 20-degree temperature drop ...,” Channel 2 meteorologist Brian Monahan said. “Have that heavier coat in the car with you.”
With a strong wind pushing in behind the front, temperatures could fall even further during Halloween festivities. The city is expected to bottom out in the 40s by 9 p.m., according to Channel 2.
Monahan said the wind could make it feel even colder, more like wintertime than fall. A freeze warning goes into effect at 11 p.m. Thursday.
As a result, Atlanta is opening an emergency warming center at 9 p.m. at the Old Adamsville Recreation Center at 3404 Delmar Lane. More information is available by calling 404-615-4955.
“Behind this system, coldest of the season yet, we'll be in the 30s in the mornings through the weekend,” he said. Temperatures are not forecast to get above the 50s and 60s in the afternoon.
» 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.
» Download The Atlanta Journal-Constitution app for weather alerts on-the-go.
