Stormy Saturday brings tornado warnings, downpours to metro Atlanta

UPDATE [10:10 p.m.]: At 10:03 p.m. Saturday, the National Weather Service extended a metro flash flood warning to 4 a.m. The counties affected are Clayton, DeKalb, southwestern Forsyth, eastern Fulton, Gwinnett, northwestern Henry and central Rockdale.

Between 1.5 and 4 inches of rain had fallen in the area from the day’s thunderstorms, and heavy rain was continuing.

Cities under the warning include Alpharetta, Atlanta, Cumming, Decatur, Duluth, Dunwoody, Forest Park, Johns Creek, Jonesboro, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, Milton, Riverdale, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Snellville, Sugar Hill and Suwanee.

UPDATE [9:05 p.m.]: With the expiration of the Gwinnett tornado warning at 9 p.m., no further tornado warnings were in effect for the region.

However, a flash flood warning was announced for Atlanta and surrounding cities, including Sandy Springs, Smyrna, East Point and College Park. The warning is effective through 3 a.m. Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

UPDATE [8:35 p.m.]: The National Weather Service has announced southwestern Gwinnett County is under a tornado warning until 9 p.m. The storm is moving northward. Part of DeKalb is also under that warning.

UPDATE [8:10 p.m.]: The tornado warning that covered southwest DeKalb now includes more of the county, and that warning runs through 8:30 p.m.

UPDATE [7:52 p.m.]: Southwest DeKalb County is under a tornado warning, along with Henry and Clayton counties, through 8:15 p.m.

Heavy downpours are headed into the heart of Atlanta, according to Channel 2 Action News.

UPDATE [7:45 p.m.]: The latest tornado warnings include Butts, Clayton, Habersham, Henry, Rabun and Stephens counties.

UPDATE [6:45 p.m.]: Tornado warnings have been expanded to several additional counties Saturday evening as the remnants of Hurricane Delta move through metro Atlanta.

A tornado warning is in effect for Coweta, Douglas and Fulton counties until 7 p.m. Channel 2 Action News reported. In addition, a warning has been issued for parts of Clayton, Henry and Fayette counties until 7:15 p.m., and southeastern Hall and northwestern Jackson counties until 7:30 p.m.

A warning has also been issued for parts of Floyd and Polk Counties until 7:30 p.m.

[6:19 p.m.] A tornado warning is in effect for two metro Atlanta counties, including parts of southwestern Fulton, and northern Coweta until 6:45 p.m. Channel 2 Action News reported.

[6:07 p.m.]: The National Weather Service has expanded its tornado watch for metro Atlanta. The watch is in effect for Carroll, Chattahoochee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Haralson, Harris, Heard, Henry, Newton, Meriwether, Muscogee, Paulding, Polk, Rockdale, Troup and Walton counties until 9 p.m.

[5:39 p.m.]: A tornado warning issued Saturday afternoon for Gwinnett and Walton Counties has been canceled, according to Channel 2 Action News. A tornado warning is in effect farther west in Carroll and Heard counties until 6:15 p.m., however.

[5:15 p.m.]: The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for portions of Gwinnett and Walton counties until 5:45 p.m. Saturday.

A severe thunderstorm is moving north toward Loganville at about 15 mph, Channel 2 Action News chief meteorologist Glenn Burns said. Those in the path of the storm are urged to take shelter immediately.

A tornado warning has also been issued for Meriwether, Upson, Harris and Pike counties, Channel 2 reported. Residents in those areas are encouraged to get to the lowest floor of their homes and stay away from doors and windows.

Several metro Atlanta counties and parts of west Georgia are already under a tornado watch that is in effect until 8 p.m. as remnants of Tropical Storm Delta move through the state.

The watch was issued for earlier for Carroll, Chattahoochee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Haralson, Harris, Heard, Meriwether, Muscogee, Paulding, Polk and Troup counties.

ORIGINAL STORY: Have your umbrellas ready and try to stay dry this weekend because tropical rain from Hurricane Delta is speeding into our state, especially into North Georgia.

Parts of North Georgia saw heavy rain Saturday morning, but the chance for severe weather will increase later this afternoon or early this evening, Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Eboni Deon said.

Those living in and around the metro Atlanta will likely get a break from the downpours ahead of that, according to the latest forecast.

“With the breaks we’ll have around, it’s not going to be a complete washout,” Deon said. “But you’ll still want to plan for most of your activities indoors. It’s going to be one of those yucky kind of days.”

A flash flood watch has been issued northeast Georgia through Sunday evening. Residents can expect between 2 and 4 inches of rain over the weekend, though the area could see more, Deon said.

Closer to metro Atlanta, residents can expect heavy rain, strong winds and even the chance for an isolated tornado late Saturday and into early Sunday morning, Deon said.

Saturday will see a high of 78 degrees, while Sunday is expected to top out at 75, according to the latest forecast. The rain is expected to come to an end on Monday, just in time for the start of the workweek.

Credit: Channel 2 Action News

Credit: Channel 2 Action News

If weather permits, the Georgia Department of Transportation has a few roadwork projects planned over the weekend. Lanes will be closed overnight on I-285 at Ga. 400 for bridge, roadway and noise barrier construction, GDOT said. Two right lanes on Abernathy Road from Barfield Road to Peachtree Dunwoody Road will be shut down Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., GDOT said.

In Atlanta, rolling closures on I-285 East near Riverside Drive could cause delays starting at noon Saturday, GDOT said. All lanes will be closed until 2 p.m.

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