A flash flood watch has been issued for parts of Georgia including some counties in the Atlanta area from 2 a.m. Saturday through 8 p.m. Sunday, according to the National Weather Service which calls that “a very dangerous situation.”
The watch covers roughly the eastern half of north Georgia, including Gwinnett, Forsyth and Hall counties.
The expected downpours that will most likely drench those attending the Georgia-Alabama football game have already resulted in the cancellation and rescheduling of weekend events.
Streams, lakes and rivers are most susceptible to flooding, said Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brad Nitz.
A watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding.
While flooding isn’t certain, the rain is, and there will be plenty of it.
Metro Atlanta could get 1 to 2 inches of rain, and areas to the east including Athens may see three to five inches, Nitz said.
That has raised concerns over Saturday’s highly-anticipated Georgia-Alabama football game. Forecasts indicate the rain could be heaviest during the contest which kicks off at 3:30 p.m. That will make for some uncomfortable viewing and likely cut into pre-game tailgating. Some parking problems also could occur with the number of available spaces reduced because of flooding.
The rain, which took a brief sabbatical Friday, will be around most of the weekend in various degrees, from light showers to total soakings, hour-by-hour projections show.
Along with the rain will come autumn-feeling temperatures, with highs on Saturday and Sunday forecast to reach the mid-60s and no more than 70, with lows in the 50s. Warmer and drier weather is headed our way — just in time for the new work week.
» Check the full forecast and track changes
Rainfall may put brakes on roadwork
The Georgia Department of Transportation has a long list of interstate roadwork planned for this weekend, but heavy rain forecast for Saturday and part of Sunday could erase that list.
Here are the places you can expect to see a sea of orange barrels if the rain lets up enough for the construction, which is all weather-permitting:
One southbound lane of I-75 will be closed at the North Marietta Parkway exit, along with the off-ramp, from 9 p.m. Friday through noon Saturday.
Motorists trying to enter I-75 southbound from the Canton Road Connector will be detoured onto I-75 northbound to Barrett Parkway, then back south onto I-75, nightly through Oct. 9.
One northbound lane of I-75 will be shut down between South Marietta Parkway and the Canton Road Connector from 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.
South of Atlanta, two northbound lanes of I-75 between Ga. 138 and I-675 will be closed from 9 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Monday.
In Douglas County, two lanes of I-20 in each direction will be closed at Lee Road from 9 p.m. Friday through noon Sunday. The Lee Road entrance and exit ramps will also be closed.
Just west of downtown, two westbound lanes of I-20 will be closed between Langhorn Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive for much of the weekend, along with two eastbound lanes between Hamilton E. Holmes Drive and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
East of downtown in Newton County, two eastbound lanes of I-20 will be closed all weekend between Almon Road and U.S. 278.
On I-285, two westbound lanes and one eastbound lane will be closed all weekend between Old National Highway and I-85.
Also on I-285, two southbound lanes will be closed all weekend from Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway and Camp Creek Parkway.
» For updated traffic information, listen to News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB and follow @ajcwsbtraffic on Twitter.
Football, baseball and a big outdoor concert downtown highlight weekend events
In addition to the UGA-Alabama football game, Georgia Tech plays North Carolina at home at 3:30 p.m., Georgia State plays Liberty at 3:30 p.m. at the Georgia Dome and Morehouse hosts Clark Atlanta at 7 p.m.
The Falcons play the Texans at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Georgia Dome, while the Braves play the Cardinals at Turner Field at 7:35 p.m. Friday, 7:10 p.m. Saturday and 3:05 p.m. Sunday.
Big crowds are expected downtown Sunday, for the 4 p.m. Foo Fighters concert at Centennial Olympic Park.
Festivals this weekend include the Sweet Auburn Music Fest Saturday and Sunday on Irwin Street, the AutumnFest Arts & Music Festival Saturday and Sunday across from City Hall in Avondale Estates, the Fall Fest in Candler Park Saturday and Sunday on McLendon Avenue and the Roswell Wine Festival Sunday on Canton Street.
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