Downpour caused flight delays, power outages

Tomorrow: Afternoon showers and storms ahead. High: 90

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

7:31 p.m. Delays at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport down to 15 minutes or less, according to the FAA. Light rains have moved passed Jonesboro, according to the Channel 2 Doppler Radar. There were 229 power outages affecting more than 5,700 customers as of 7:25 p.m., according to Georgia Power.

6 p.m. Temperatures were 76 degrees in Atlanta, 81 degrees in Blairsville and 74 degrees in Griffin.

5:50 p.m. Georgia Power reported 242 outages affecting nearly 10,000 customers about 5:39 p.m.

5:45 p.m. Delays are now 16 to 45 minutes at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, according to the FAA.

5:15 p.m. Tree reported down near the I-85 exit ramp to Camp Creek Parkway, according to WSB Radio. One right lane of the exit ramp is blocked.

5:05 p.m. At least eight-tenths of an inch of rain fell near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Channel 2 meteorologist Brad Nitz said.

4:55 p.m. More than 1,660 customers without power near East Atlanta, according to Georgia Power.

4:45 p.m. Power lines reportedly down at Peachtree Industrial Boulevard between Oak Park Drive and McGinnis Ferry in Gwinnett County, according to WSB Radio. Georgia Power is on the scene. About 346 customers are affected.

4:40 p.m. Rain made temperatures 20 degrees cooler than Monday's afternoon temps of 95 degrees, Channel 2 meteorologist Brad Nitz tweeted.

4:34 p.m. Scattered showers expected early Wednesday with lows in the mid 70s and highs in the low 90s.

4:32 p.m. Burns said the rain is much needed as drought conditions range from very dry in South Georgia to Extreme in eastern parts of Georgia. Drought conditions are extreme in metro Atlanta.

4:30 p.m. A weather disturbance is moving through upper level winds resulted in ongoing rain, Channel 2 Chief Meteorologist Glenn Burns said. The second disturbance moves in tomorrow.

4:21 p.m. Georgia Power reports at least 2,730 customers affected by power outages near Southeast Atlanta.

4:16 p.m. A tree has fallen across Cascade Avenue near Eastridge Road hitting power lines, Atlanta police said. Georgia Power was called to the scene.

4:02 p.m. Light rain showers reported across the metro Atlanta, Burns said. Rain is traveling east and northeast at 30 MPH. More rainy weather expected tomorrow.

4:01 p.m. At least 69 lightning shocks seen near Greene and Putnam counties, Channel 2 Chief Meteorologist Glenn Burns said. Down pours in Meriwether county is spreading to Pike and Spalding counties.

3:55 p.m. Flight delays average up to two hours at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

3:21 p.m. Walton County no longer under severe thunderstorm warning, Burns tweeted.

3:02 p.m. Debris on roads is clogging storm drains leading to flooding, Chief Meteorologist Glenn Burns tweeted. Rain is moving east at 30 MPH.

2:57 p.m.: Damaging wind gusts possible near Loganville, Nitz tweeted. Storms are moving east toward Between, Compton and Monroe.

2:56 p.m. Severe thunderstorm warning issued for Walton County until 3:15 p.m., Channel 2 meteorologist Brad Nitz said on Twitter. Gusty winds with heavy rain and lightning are moving east.

UPDATE [2:42 p.m.]Flights out of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport experiencing delays between 45 and 60 minutes following a ground stop, airport spokesman Reese McCranie said.

ORIGINAL STORY: Facing an isolated thunderstorm risk, parts of metro Atlanta were hit with heavy downpours Tuesday afternoon.

Expect even more thunderstorms, gusty winds and frequent lightning through 4 p.m., according to Channel 2 Action News.

Showers hit west Georgia early and became more widespread, drenching downtown Atlanta as well as Cobb, Clayton, DeKalb and Gwinnett counties.

Meteorologist Brad Nitz said an isolated thunderstorm risk will remain in effect through 6 p.m. before showers start to taper off and eventually dry out.

But the dry spell won’t last long.

Another round of showers and storms will develop Wednesday during the afternoon and evening.

It's much needed rain, considering metro Atlanta and north Georgia has been under a severe drought, meteorologists said. But showers won't produce enough water to offer much drought relief.

Temperatures were 77 degrees in Atlanta, 73 degrees in Blairsville and 75 degrees in Griffin just before 10:30 p.m.

A heat advisory issued Tuesday will last through 6 p.m. in Jasper and Putnam counties, according to the National Weather Service.

Temperatures could feel like 105 degrees and lead to heat-related illnesses.

The advisory isn’t expected to affect metro Atlanta, where the expected high is 90 degrees.