Heavy rain, high winds forecast for Georgia

By Mike Morris

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A low-pressure system developing in the Gulf of Mexico will bring the threat of heavy rain to metro Atlanta on Wednesday, and a risk of high winds to much of the state beginning Tuesday night.

Much of Georgia, including all of metro Atlanta, is under a flood watch, beginning at 1 a.m. Wednesday and continuing through Wednesday evening.

The National Weather Service has also issued a high wind watch, in effect from late Tuesday night through Wednesday evening, for extreme north Georgia, calling for wind gusts in excess of 50 mph. Forecasters said some areas could see winds gusting to over 60 mph.

In metro Atlanta, a wind advisory is in effect from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday. The Weather Service said winds of 15 to 25 mph, with gusts over 35 mph, are expected.

Forecasters are predicting as much as 4 inches of rain on Wednesday along and south of a line from Carrollton to Cleveland, with 1 to 2 inches likely north of that area.

In addition, the Weather Service said in a statement that "fast-moving bands of heavy showers or thunderstorms could produce strong to damaging winds," with a "potential for a few small tornadoes."

The main severe weather threat will be from late Wednesday morning through the afternoon hours, along and south of a line from West Point to Athens.

The rain should end Wednesday night, with another Gulf system expected to bring a slight chance of rain to the state Friday night.

Temperatures Friday night will be cold enough across extreme north Georgia "to support snow if adequate moisture can be pooled ahead of the approaching disturbance," the Weather Service said. " However, moisture will be too limited to see anything but a few flurries or sprinkles."

The chance of rain is 100 percent Tuesday night and Wednesday, diminishing to 40 percent Wednesday night, lows in the mid-40s and highs in the mid-50s.

Thursday will be partly sunny, with highs in the mid-50s, followed by overnight lows in the mid-30s.

Mostly sunny skies are forecast for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with highs around 50 degrees. Overnight lows will be in the low 30s, and there's a 20 percent chance of rain Friday night, the Weather Service said.

Atlanta has received more than 60 inches of rain this year, about 14 inches above average. The one-year record for rainfall is 71.18 inches, set in 1948.