Systems to the east and west combine in "perfect storm"

By Mike Morris

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Two weather systems -- one to the west and the other to the east -- combined in a "perfect storm" scenario to bring nearly a week of heavy rain to Georgia and metro Atlanta.

A persistent low-pressure system that had been centered over the lower Mississippi River valley for much of the past week began to weaken as it lifted to the north and northeast over the weekend, the National Weather Service said.

"This system provided a southwest flow of deep Gulf moisture across the Southeast," the Weather Service said.

The second element, a high-pressure system along the eastern seaboard, provided additional Atlantic moisture that bolstered the Gulf moisture.

"These two systems, aided by several upper-level impulses, brought persistent heavy rainfall across portions of north and central Georgia where grounds were already saturated from rainfall throughout the past week," the Weather Service said.

The latest of those impulses was spawning storms and rain in Alabama at noon Monday that was expected to move into Georgia later in the afternoon.