Wrecks continue to hinder evening commute; temps remain high

ATLANTA FORECAST

Friday: High: 90

Friday night: Low: 71

Saturday: High: 90

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

As the temperature creeps closer to 90 degrees — nearly 10 degrees above average — traffic remains heavy downtown and across metro Atlanta

Earlier wrecks on the Downtown Connector and I-20 have been cleared, but heavy delays remain, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

In Cherokee County, a chemical acid spill at the Pilgrim’s Pride chicken plant shut down Univeter Road at Chattin Drive, according to the Traffic Center. I-575 was previously closed between exits 14 and 16, but it has since reopened.

In Forsyth County, a wreck on Ga. 400 near McFarland Parkway is blocking the right lane, causing delays, according to the Traffic Center.

Metro Atlanta is expected to reach a high of 90 degrees.

The pattern of mild mornings and hot afternoons has been the case all week as a ridge of high pressure staves off any weather systems that could bring temperatures down, Channel 2 meteorologist Karen Minton said.

Fall officially begins with the autumnal equinox at 9:54 p.m. Saturday. It just doesn’t feel like it.

“With high pressure that’s anchored off the East Coast, we’ve got this ridge that’s blocking everything so the weather systems can’t come through,” Minton said. “Any kind of rain that would approach our state line just kind of fizzles as it moves into the drier air. It just can’t hold together.”

The result is lots of sunshine and heat, she said.

Rain chances stay low through the weekend before a change in the atmosphere will allow clouds and moisture to roll in.

“There is a light at the end of this hot tunnel,” Minton said. “We are going to find just slightly cooler air going into early next week. The ridge of high pressure breaks down, and that gives us a better chance of showers, which will help also to keep us slightly cooler.”

High temperatures should come down to the mid-80s by Tuesday, she said, while rain chances increase to 40 percent. The trend should continue through the last week of September, according to Channel 2.

Until then, evenings should also be much warmer than usual, and that includes the Braves home game at 7:35 p.m. against the Philadelphia Phillies at SunTrust Park. In addition to evening commute traffic, Cobb County will likely see heavier traffic around game time.