Sally’s impact in Atlanta: Streets flooded, trees down, power out

Streets are flooded, trees are down and thousands of residents remain without power after heavy rain and strong winds battered North Georgia on Thursday.

A woman was killed when a tree fell on her as she walked her dog in her unincorporated Snellville neighborhood, and a man sitting at a Cobb County bus shelter died after the driver of a Tesla lost control in the rain and crashed into him, authorities said.

While the severe weather — remnants of Hurricane Sally — has moved out, metro Atlanta is not in the clear. The soil is extremely saturated and more trees could come down as wind gusts continue.

It’s still sprinkling in parts of the metro area, but the heavy rain that downed trees and caused flooding across the region has mostly subsided, Channel 2 Action News chief meteorologist Glenn Burns said.

As of 4:30 p.m., wind speeds continued at about 10 mph in Atlanta. Gusts are stronger farther north, however. Winds were clocked at 26 mph in Rome and 21 mph in areas near Gainesville, Channel 2 reported.

Credit: Channel 2 Action News

Credit: Channel 2 Action News

“It does not take a lot of wind to down trees onto power lines when you have this kind of wet soil,” Burns said. “It has been absolutely brutal today.”

Georgia Power representatives said employees will continue working around the clock to restore power to those who lost it early Thursday.

[UPDATE 2:30 p.m.]: The Georgia Department of Transportation has responded to 66 storm-related incidents since 5 p.m. Wednesday. Spokeswoman Natalie Dale said 33 of those incidents involved reports of flooding, debris, fallen trees or bridge closures. GDOT currently has two routes closed because of flooding and four closed because of trees or debris. None of the closures are in metro Atlanta.

[UPDATE 2:18 p.m.]: Dunwoody officials just provided an update on the status of an intersection that has been closed since a massive tree fell and crushed two vehicles Thursday morning.

Drivers should expect the intersection of Mount Vernon and Chamblee Dunwoody roads to remain closed for the remainder of the day and possibly overnight as crews begin the cleanup, according to authorities.

“Power in the area will also likely be off for several hours,” the city said in a tweet.

[UPDATE 1:18 p.m.]: Alpharetta road crews are working to clear a downed tree blocking Haynes Bridge Road in the area of Mansell Road, the city said in a tweet. Authorities predict the debris will take an hour to clear.

[UPDATE 12:26 p.m.]: Authorities are still working to move a massive tree blocking a Dunwoody intersection, and police say the cleanup could last all day and into the night.

The intersection of Mount Vernon and Chamblee Dunwoody roads is still closed, police said in a tweet. Things could stay that way overnight, according to the agency.

“The power in the area will also likely be off for several hours,” police said.

[UPDATE 12:06 p.m.]: Areas throughout metro Atlanta are measuring between 3 and 6 inches of rain since Wednesday, according to Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan. So far, Lawrenceville has received 4.91 inches of rain and Loganville has gotten 5.27 inches.

Downed trees and power lines are still causing problems for many residents. More than 21,000 Georgia Power customers are still without service following the storm, and several roadways are blocked while emergency crews work to move trees.

Harbins Road in Dacula is closed between McMillian and Will Wages roads due to wire on the roadway, police said in a tweet.

“Remember, never touch any downed wire or low hanging wire, including Cable TV wires that touch a power line,” Georgia Power said in a statement. “Never pull tree limbs off power lines yourself or enter areas with debris or downed trees as downed power lines may be buried in the wreckage.”

In Sandy Springs, a tree brought down powerlines on Peachtree Dunwoody Road at Kingston Drive.

[UPDATE 11:49 a.m.]: Crews in Dunwoody are working to move a massive oak tree that fell at the historic Cheek-Spruill House, crushing two vehicles.

The tree brought down power lines and landed on the roadway in the area of Chamblee Dunwoody and Mount Vernon roads, Dunwoody city officials said.

“After tree (and) roadway are cleared, crews will begin power restoration,” the city said. “It will take several hours.”

The fallen tree is one of several that have been reported in DeKalb County, according to police. The agency said it is tending to downed trees at five different locations and downed power lines at four locations.

[UPDATE 11:22 a.m.]: Officials in Cobb County have closed four parks due to high water in the area. In a statement Thursday, the county said East Cobb Park, Fullers Park, Noonday Creek Park and the Sweat Mountain Dog Park are closed until the water recedes and will remain closed while crews work to repair storm damage.

[UPDATE 11:15 a.m.]: Flooding and downed trees have prompted authorities to close bridges in North Fulton.

In Sandy Springs, Windsor Parkway Bridge is closed due to flooding, city officials said in a tweet.

“We have barricades in place,” the city said. “Please don’t attempt to drive around the barricades. The road is closed for your safety.”

Buice Road is closed at the bridge over Johns Creek while authorities work to clean up a fallen tree and power lines in the area. The roadway is closed between Twingate Drive and Farmbook Lane while crews are in the area.

[UPDATE 10:45 a.m.]: As the storms that ravaged Middle Georgia early Thursday begin to lift, Georgia Power is working to restore service to thousands of customers experiencing outages.

“After the storm moves out of the area and travel conditions are safe, assessment and repair crews will mobilize and begin the restoration process,” Georgia Power said in a statement. “Georgia Power will continue to provide summary outage information throughout the day.”

Currently, more than 23,000 customers remain without power.

Fire crews in DeKalb County are working to clear a tree that came down on Regalwoods Drive at Summitridge Drive.

A tree brought down power lines along Pat Mell Road in Cobb County, the county’s Department of Transporation said. The roadway is closed from Favor Road to Olive Springs Road while crews are in the area.

[UPDATE 10:31 a.m.]: The road near the bridge at Hillcrest Road in Lilburn is closed in both directions due to flooding, city officials said in a tweet.

Jackson Creek crested over the bridge, severely obscuring the roadway.

[UPDATE 10:15 a.m.]: Forsyth and Hall counties are among several North Georgia counties under a new flash flood watch the National Weather Service issued just after 10 a.m.

“A flash flood watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding,” the Weather Service said in the advisory. “Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation. You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should flash flood warnings be issued.”

The latest watch is set to expire at 8 a.m. Friday.

[UPDATE 9:45 a.m.]: The National Weather Service has issued several new flood warnings that impact parts of DeKalb, Rockdale, Cherokee, Fulton and Cobb counties.

Just before 9:30 a.m., the Weather Service issued a warning for the Chattahoochee River near Vinings Cobb Parkway. The new warning was issued just 15 minutes before a flood warning for the same area was set to expire.

The warning is in effect from Thursday morning “until further notice.”

Another flood warning is in effect for Nancy Creek near Atlanta until this afternoon.

Cherokee and Cobb counties are both impacted by a flood warning issued for Noonday Creek near Woodstock. The warning is in effect until further notice.

A flood warning is in effect for the Yellow River near Lithonia until “early tomorrow afternoon," the Weather Service said. The Ocmulgee and Oconee rivers are also included in the warning.

[UPDATE 9:37 a.m.]: Cobb County officials said they are dealing with “dozens of calls of trees down or flooded roadways.”

The county urges drivers to use caution and avoid roads that are covered with water.

[UPDATE 9:08 a.m.]: Storms and fallen trees pulling down power lines have left more than 28,000 Georgia Power customers without service Thursday morning, according to the utility company’s outage map.

Georgia Power is still working to determine when service will be restored to the impacted areas.

Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

[UPDATE 8:56 a.m.]: The deluge of rain from the remnants of Hurricane Sally have closed highways across Georgia.

The Georgia Department of Transportation says it responded to 38 incidents of flooding and debris on highways, most of them in southwest and Middle Georgia.

Currently, seven routes are closed due to flooding and 10 because of downed trees. In metro Atlanta, the Ga. 54 on ramp to I-285 in Fulton County is closed.

A massive tree fell on two cars and brought power lines down at the intersection of Mt. Vernon Road and Chamblee Dunwoody Road. No injuries were reported, but the incident is causing major delays, Dunwoody police said.

GDOT urges motorists to drive cautiously and avoid standing water.

[UPDATE 8:43 a.m.]: The National Weather Service just issued its preliminary report on rainfall totals from 8 a.m. Wednesday to 8 a.m. Thursday.

“As expected, widespread rainfall totals of 3 to 6 inches occurred,” the Weather Service said in a tweet.

Credit: ALYSSA POINTER / ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM

Credit: ALYSSA POINTER / ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM

Areas around Macon and Americus, however, saw rain totals of 8 inches. As severe weather begins to move away from metro Atlanta, rainfall totals are still increasing.

“Even though the heavy stuff is starting to move out, we are still going to add to this rain,” Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan said.

Drivers in North Fulton are urged to watch out for flooding. Deep water is causing problems for drivers on Holcomb Bridge road just west of Ga 400, the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center reported.

In Conyers, East View Road is closed between Rowland and Norton roads after a fallen tree brought down power lines.

[UPDATE 8:20 a.m.]: Toppled trees are blocking roadways and bringing down power lines all across the metro area.

Mount Calvary Road is shut down due to a tree that fell on power lines, according to the Cobb County Department of Transportation.

Road crews in DeKalb County have moved a tree that was blocking I-285 at Flat Shoals Road. All lanes of the interstate are now open.

The City of Atlanta is asking citizens to be patient while it tends to downed trees.

“If you see a downed line, stay away and avoid any standing water,” the city said.

[UPDATE 8:09 a.m.]: The DeKalb County Board of Health’s COVID-19 testing sites will be closed Thursday due to inclement weather. A health board spokesman said appointments scheduled for Thursday were moved to Friday.

The announcement comes as the remnants of Sally continue to impact metro Atlanta.

[UPDATE 7:48 a.m.]: The National Weather Service has dropped flood warnings for several more counties west of Atlanta.

A flood warning continues until 9:45 a.m. for areas near Big Creek in Alpharetta, and a flood watch remains in effect for most of the state until 9 a.m. Friday. A flash flood warning remains in effect until 1:45 p.m. in Greene County and Taliaferro County.

Authorities have cleared several crashes that were tangling up Georgia’s interstates.

All northbound lanes of I-75 near Mount Zion Boulevard are now open, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center. However, delays remain leaving Morrow.

A crash on I-285 southbound at Cascade Road has been resolved, the Traffic Center reported. All lanes are open, but delays are lingering in the area.

[UPDATE 7:39 a.m.]: Flooded roadways are continuing to create dangerous conditions for drivers in metro Atlanta.

In Clayton County, Upper Riverdale Road is closed at Garden Walk Boulevard due to flooding.

Officials in Milton said a large tree that toppled in the storm is blocking Hamby Road.

“Please avoid driving in that area and stay safe,” the city said.

“Keep in mind that we are still going to be dealing with flooded roadways throughout the day,” Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Eboni Deon.

[UPDATE 7:20 a.m.]: Local officials are urging drivers to be cautious while driving through storms. In a tweet, Sandy Springs police said they are responding to multiple crashes throughout the city.

“Slow down while driving and turn (your) lights on,” the agency said.

Authorities in Cobb County noted a slew of areas that are giving drivers problems during the morning commute. The trouble spots include Prada Lane at Barrett Parkway, White Road at Riverside Drive and several other roads.

Meanwhile, a crash has shut down all eastbound lanes of I-20 at Ga. 142 in Newton County. Drivers should avoid the area and use U.S. 278 as an alternate route out of Covington.

[UPDATE 7:04 a.m.]: The rain and wind are starting to let up on the Southside, but the threat of flooding and falling trees persists due to standing water and damp soil.

So far, Atlanta has received 3.66 inches of rain, Lawrenceville has received 3.34 inches and Thomaston has received 5.67 inches.

[UPDATE 6:56 a.m.]: A flash flood watch has been canceled in several counties west of metro Atlanta as rain begins to taper off in the region. However, a flash flood warning is still in effect in much of the metro area until 9:45 a.m.

At least 19,000 Georgians are currently without power as storms continue to hammer the state.

[UPDATE 6:43 a.m.]: Road crews are trying to move a tree that toppled over and fell onto a DeKalb County interstate due to heavy rain and flooding. Crews are using chainsaws to chop up the tree, which is blocking two right lanes of I-285 near Flat Shoals Road, Channel 2 Action News reported.

Another downed tree has brought down power lines along Mount Vernon Highway in Sandy Springs. In Roswell, Willeo Road is closed from Azalea Drive to the Cobb County line due to flooding.

“This is all the impact of Sally,” Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan said. “Heavy rain, strong wind gusts, and that risk is going to last after that storm moves out.”

[ORIGINAL STORY]: Much of Georgia is at risk of severe weather and flooding as Tropical Depression Sally continues to move through the state Thursday morning.

The slow-moving storm made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane near Mobile, Alabama shortly before 6 a.m. Wednesday and began crawling toward Middle Georgia. The National Weather Service downgraded Sally from a hurricane to a tropical depression about 4 a.m. Thursday.

Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

“But no matter what that organization is with Sally, it’s a pouring rain story,” Channel 2 meteorologist Brian Monahan said.

Areas across the entire length of I-20 are being pelted with heavy rain, he said. With wind speeds as fast as 30 mph, several areas could experience downed trees and power outages.

At least 16,000 Georgia Power customers are already without power due to the storm, according to the company’s power outage map.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch that covers nearly all of the state. The watch remains in effect until 9 a.m. A flash flood warning that includes parts of north Fulton, DeKalb and Cobb counties remains in effect until 9:45 a.m.

Most of North Georgia will not face the risk of severe weather. However, Fulton, DeKalb and Gwinnett counties have already received between 2 and 4 inches of rain, and the Southside has received between 1 and 3 inches. According to Monahan, those areas could receive up to 4 more.

“Yes, you can handle three, four or five inches of rain over a couple of days, but if you put all of that in in a matter of 12 hours, that’s when you start to have problems," Monahan said.

Even after the warning expires, dangerously high standing water and saturated soil could pose a risk well into the morning, Monahan said.

“We could have winds at 35 mph, and with saturated ground, that’s the kind of weather that can bring down trees,” Monahan said.

Sally will grow weaker as it continues to move eastward, Monahan said. By lunchtime, the rain will stop and the metro will begin to dry out. However, standing water will continue to pose a risk.

Between the heavy rain and standing water on the roads, Channel 2 suggests that drivers avoid getting behind the wheel however possible.

“We’ve got a while to go, so between now and 9 a.m., keep it at home,” Monahan said. “If you don’t have to go out, your best bet is to stay inside.”

However, if you have to travel today, caution is mandatory. Nearly every major interstate is tangle up due to crashes, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

In DeKalb County, a crash has two left lanes of I-85 closed near Shallowford Road. Drivers should expect delays in the area.

In Hall County, all southbound lanes of I-985 are closed at Spout Springs road due a crash, the Traffic Center reported. Drivers should use Atlanta Highway as an alternate route.

And in Clayton County, a wreck is blocking two left lanes of I-75 North at Tara Boulevard.

— Staff writers David Wickert and Ada Wood contributed to this article.

» For a detailed forecast, visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution weather page.

» For updated traffic information, listen to News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB and follow @ajcwsbtraffic on Twitter.

» Download The Atlanta Journal-Constitution app for weather alerts on-the-go.