Tornado watch lifted for Atlanta

A tornado watch posted for parts of metro Atlanta was lifted Thursday after a line of storms that swept into Georgia from Alabama moved southeast of the area.

The storms, which downed trees in several Alabama towns and blew a tractor-trailer over on an interstate in Birmingham, weakened as they moved into Georgia Thursday morning.

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Bob Andres/bandres@ajc.com

A tornado watch has been issued for the southern counties of metro Atlanta.

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But the National Weather Service warned that more storms are likely Friday into Saturday.

All of metro Atlanta remains under a flood watch until late Saturday night, with forecasters calling for widespread rainfall totals of 3 to 4 inches.

The greatest threat for severe weather will be from Friday afternoon through Saturday afternoon, the Weather Service said, when there’s a potential for a tornadoes.

The forecast for metro Atlanta calls for 80 percent chance of rain on Thursday, decreasing to 30 percent Thursday night before climbing to 60 percent on Friday, the Weather Service said. Highs will be in the mid- to upper 60s, with lows in the low 50s.

The chance of showers and thunderstorms is 60 percent Friday night and 70 percent on Saturday, with highs in the low 70s and lows in the mid-50s.

Sunday should be partly sunny, with highs in the low 60s and lows in the mid-40s.