WEATHER-TRAFFIC UPDATE: Severe storms, heavy winds hit metro Atlanta

Severe Weather Team 2's Brian Monahan reports.

ATLANTA FORECAST 

Monday: High: 93

Monday night: Low: 75

Tuesday: High: 92

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

Severe thunderstorms and winds up to 60 mph led to fallen tree limbs across metro Atlanta, according to Channel 2 Action News.

Spotty showers that hit the Atlanta area Monday worsened throughout the afternoon. Several counties, including Clayton, Fayette, Fulton, and Henry counties were under a thunderstorm warning through 6:30 p.m.

Darkening skies and traffic delays began about 4:30 p.m. as heavy showers and storms entered metro Atlanta, Channel 2 reported.

Northeast Georgia is also under a severe thunderstorm watch.

The National Weather Service issued the watch for areas northeast of Gainesville, including Rabun and Habersham counties, until 10 p.m.

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“It is going to be a wet commute tonight along the westside of metro Atlanta,” Monahan said.

Earlier, there were heavy delays in Midtown on Peachtree Street at 26th Street due to sewer work that has closed all but one left lane, the WSB 24-Hour Traffic Center reported.

And repairs to two sinkholes on Venture Drive in Gwinnett County also delayed traffic. The road is closed between Steve Reynolds Boulevard and Pleasant Hill Road, which is located near Gwinnett Place Mall in Duluth.

The evening commute saw multiple crashes on the Downtown Connector and I-285 as rains continued to fire up Monday.

But even with the rain, metro Atlanta didn’t dodge the heat.

Atlanta reached the low 90s by the afternoon, according to Channel 2.

With Monday expected to feel like a 'steam bath,' 2-year-old Tre Toole decided to cool off in the Historic Old Fourth Ward Splash Pad. JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

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Channel 2 meteorologist Karen Minton urged people to stay hydrated and keep pets indoors with plenty of fresh water.

The pattern of heat and daily storms should continue, according to Channel 2. Forecasts for the next four days call for highs in the 90s, above the average high of 88 for this time in June.

Rain chances hover in the 30 to 40 percent chance all week and into the weekend.

“We’ll continue with our hot weather for Saturday and Sunday with scattered showers and some storms again,” Minton said. “Not raining all day long, but you’ll dodge one or two here or there.”

Expect the same all the way through Independence Day, according to Channel 2.

» 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.

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