Rain expected to soak Georgia all week

By Mike Morris

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Grab an umbrella. It's going to be a wet week in Georgia.

Up to 3 inches of rain could fall in metro Atlanta over the next five days, forecasters with the National Weather Service in Peachtree City said.

A line of rain, heavy at times, moved through the city before daybreak on Wednesday, and more showers and thunderstorms were forecast for later in the day.

The Weather Service said some areas could see as much as  1 to 2 inches of rainfall, with the best chance for thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening hours.

A low pressure system over Louisiana is scattering moisture from the Gulf of Mexico over the Southeast and will likely continue to do so until Monday.

There's a 70 percent chance of rain Thursday, decreasing to 60 percent on Friday and 40 percent Saturday and Sunday.

Rainfall totals so far have varied widely, with Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport reporting only .53 inch during the 24-hour period ending at 8 a.m. Wednesday. Elsewhere,  Chamblee received 1.61 inches and Johns Creek just over 2 inches.

Four counties near Tennessee -- Gilmer, Dawson, Lumpkin and White -- saw 4 to 5 inches of rain on Tuesday, and Ellijay recorded 6.19 inches through 8 a.m. Wednesday.

Minor flooding was reported, but rivers are not expected to overflow, forecasters said.

A flash flood warning was posted Tuesday for Gilmer County, where a small stream overflowed its banks. One home was damaged and about 20 homes near the intersection of Chatsworth Highway and Hancock Drive in northwest Ellijay were evacuated as a precaution.