Atlanta weather | Heavy rains may raise flood risk

By David Ibata

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Heavy rains predicted for Thursday afternoon through early Friday on already saturated ground are expected to raise a risk of flooding across North Georgia.

The National Weather Services predicts total rainfalls of 1 to 2 inches, mainly along and north of a line from Carrollton through Marietta and Dawsonville to Helen. A total of 2 to 4 inches of rain already have fallen over the area in the past week.

The Weather Service said it was likely to issue a flood watch Wednesday night, possibly elevating it to flood warnings beginning Thursday afternoon.

“Isolated flash flooding will be possible if the heavy rain repeatedly moves over the same weather,” the Weather Service said. “Also, storm drains and ditches in urban areas may become quickly clogged with debris and cause extensive street flooding and road ponding.”

Channel 2 Action News chief meteorologist Glenn Burns predicts cloudy skies overnight, with a low in the low to mid 50s.

Thursday will see scattered showers with a high in the upper 60s, and Thursday night, showers and storms. The skies will be clearing by Friday morning with a low in the lower 50s and a high in the mid 60s, Burns said.

Channel 2's five-day forecast calls for a weekend that's shaping up to be dry but cooler, with highs around 60 on Saturday and in the mid 50s on Sunday, and overnight lows in the 30s and 40s.