Steady rain is falling all across North Georgia on Tuesday morning, and it is not going to let up anytime soon.
Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan said the impact of weather on travel will be high for the morning commute, the lunchtime drive and the evening commute. Basically, he said, it will be wet all day long.
“Rain anywhere, at any time,” he said. “Looking to get outside? Today is definitely not your day. Today is the day for inside plans.”
A front parked to the west of Georgia is sending waves of showers and storms across the state Tuesday, according to Monahan. The heaviest rain Tuesday morning is falling on the Southside, where areas from Jonesboro to Conyers have recorded 1 inch to 1.5 inches of rainfall since 2 a.m. alone.
Monahan said there is a danger of hydroplaning on wet roads, especially along I-20.
“There’s likely going to be areas of standing water there,” he said. “If you are headed into town toward the eastside of the Perimeter, slow those speeds a bit, especially until the sun comes up. It’s going to be hard to see those areas of standing water on the road.”
Some counties in northeast Georgia, including Hall County, are under a flash flood watch until 10 p.m. That area has already received 1 to 2 inches of rain, with some spots recording more than 2.5 inches, according to the National Weather Service. An additional 1 to 2 inches are possible.
“With already saturated soils, quickly accumulating rainfall will easily allow for efficient runoff and increase flash flood potential,” the Weather Service said in an advisory.
The soggy soil could also make it easier for trees to topple. In Atlanta, a home was destroyed after a tree fell along Peyton Avenue off Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway. No one was injured, a neighbor told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM
Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM
With the steady rain and clouds, temperatures are being held at bay. Atlanta is only expected to reach a high of 80 degrees Tuesday, according to Channel 2. Things should look a little brighter next week, the last week of summer vacation for thousands of metro Atlanta students.
“I don’t expect much of any sun today, but by tomorrow increasing sunshine,” Monahan said. “Scattered storms Wednesday, Thursday and Friday — a bit drier. And by the weekend, just isolated storms for you each day.”
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Multiple crashes have been reported as of 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, making for a slow start to the morning commute. WSB 24-hour Traffic Center reporter Mark Arum said it is best to wait until sunrise before venturing out.
“If you can wait it out, do so,” he said. “Because we’ve got a bunch of crashes on wet pavement.”
There are heavy delays on the Downtown Connector after a series of wrecks. Northbound lanes are back open at the exit to the Pine and Peachtree streets, but delays remain.
Headed south, another crash was blocking lanes at Williams Street, the Traffic Center reported. It is slow out of Midtown.
The Downtown Connector is not alone. Crashes have been reported on just about every other metro Atlanta interstate, including I-20 East, where two right lanes are closed at I-285, the Traffic Center reported at 6:30 a.m.
» 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.
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