Flood watch posted for Friday and Saturday as forecasters predict heavy rain

Most of metro Atlanta will be under a flood watch Friday and Saturday as forecasters are predicting up to 2 inches of rain from a weather system approaching from the west.

The flood watch, which goes into effect Friday afternoon and runs through Saturday afternoon, is for areas of north and central Georgia south of a line from Cedartown to Cumming to Homer, an area that includes all but the far northern suburbs of metro Atlanta.

“Localized flash flooding will be possible if the heavy rain repeatedly moves over the same area,” the National Weather Service said early Thursday.

Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brad Nitz said the rain will move into metro Atlanta “mostly after sunset” on Thursday and continue through Saturday morning. Nitz put the chance of rain at 60 percent for Thursday, 90 percent on Friday and 30 percent Saturday.

The Weather Service is predicting up to 4 inches of rain across central Georgia.

After a sunny Sunday, rain will move back into the state Sunday night, with another 1 to 2 inches of rain possible Sunday night through Monday, the Weather Service said.

Afternoon highs will be near 60 degrees on Thursday, but only in the upper 40s Friday before rebounding back into the 60s Saturday and Sunday, Nitz said. Overnight lows should be in the mid-40s through the weekend.

Temperatures before daybreak Thursday were mostly in the low 30s across metro Atlanta.