Flood watch continues; rain to extend into next week

By Mike Morris

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Much of Georgia, including nearly all of metro Atlanta, remained under a flood watch Friday as forecasters predicted several more inches of rain on top of the 6 to 12 inches some parts of the state have seen this week.

The flood watch, which means there's the potential for flooding based on current forecasts, was posted Thursday afternoon and is in effect through Saturday morning. Only Bartow and Hall counties of metro Atlanta are outside the watch area, which extends from Atlanta south to Americus and Vidalia and east to Athens.

In Houston County south of Macon, a flash flood warning was issued overnight after 3 to 4 inches of rain in two hours inundated creeks in the Warner Robins area, the National Weather Service said.

In Taylor County, the Weather Service said Ga. Hwy. 96 was closed near the Crawford County line, and that high water was also reported on Ga. 128.

At least one bridge was washed out in Morgan County, and water was flowing over bridges on U.S. 411 near Madison overnight, the Weather Service said.

Just before daybreak Friday, the heaviest rain stretched from just west of Macon to Augusta and eastward into South Carolina.

The Weather Service said scattered heavy rain would continue across north and central Georgia through Saturday morning, with a good chance of rain remaining in the forecast well into next week.

The forecast for metro Atlanta calls for an 80 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms on Friday, decreasing to 60 percent overnight before going back up to 70 percent on Saturday and Sunday. Highs will be in the mid-70s to near 80 degrees, with lows in the upper 60s.

The chance of rain is 60 percent on Monday, 40 percent on Tuesday and Wednesday and 30 percent on Thursday, the Weather Service said.