Much of North Georgia will be under a flood watch Wednesday afternoon into Thursday morning as widespread thunderstorms roll in, according to the National Weather Service.
Overcast skies hovered over Atlanta during the midafternoon as the metro area braced for severe weather. Rain and some lightning had already been spotted in Blairsville, Dalton and Rome, the Weather Service reported.
The storms are expected to drop a lot of rain in a short time, which could cause flash floods in some areas, the agency warns. The flood watch is in place from 4 p.m. Wednesday to 8 a.m. Thursday, possibly affecting commutes.
Light rain is expected to move into the area around 7 p.m., followed by strong storms though the evening and overnight, according to a Channel 2 Action News forecast.
Credit: Ben Hendren
Credit: Ben Hendren
The highest flood risk encompasses the northern and western half of metro Atlanta, including Douglas, Cobb, Cherokee and north Fulton counties, and stretches all the way up to the state’s northwest border. Parts of west central Georgia, including Columbus, and Alabama are also included in the flood watch.
Americus, Athens and Macon, as well as counties to the east, are under a hazardous weather outlook with “heavy rainfall and frequent lightning” expected, according to the Weather Service. More than 40 Alabama counties are also under a tornado watch as of just before 4 p.m.
Most areas in North Georgia can expect 1½ to 2 inches of rain, with higher amounts of 4 inches or more possible locally, according to agency. That kind of downpour could prompt flooding in flood prone and urban areas and places with poor drainage.
Motorists are advised not to drive on water-covered roads.
The rain comes as all of Georgia is in a severe to exceptional drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
All that dry and hardened ground “can lead to more rapid runoff and a higher flood threat” than what could be absorbed by soft or wet earth, the Weather Service said.
“One thing the drought will have an influence on, is that main stem rivers are low, and will not be at risk for flooding during this event,” the agency added.
Metro Atlanta is under a level 2 of 5 risk for severe weather. Along with thunderstorms, there is also the risk of damaging wind gusts of more than 60 mph, hail and the possibility for tornadoes.
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