Strong and quick-moving thunderstorms plowed through downtown Atlanta on Thursday afternoon, flooding roads, impacting college students and prompting the evacuation of one of the city’s premier attractions.

According to city officials, rain gauges show that about three hours’ worth of rain came down in just 15 minutes in some areas of downtown Atlanta.

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In 2018, McDonough Mayor-elect Kam Varner helped create a documentary on the Blacksville community. A major thoroughfare, Phillips Drive, was named after her great-great-grandfather. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

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Carleigh Knight (left) and her sister, Natalie Rogovin, look at Christmas ornaments while shopping at Kudzu Antiques + Modern in Decatur on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

Credit: Natrice Miller