Metro counties experience flooding as Hurricane Michael moves through Georgia

It’s raining in metro Atlanta as Hurricane Michael’s outer bands are reaching further into Georgia, Channel 2 Action News reported.

The storm made landfall around 1:40 p.m. on the Florida Panhandle, and it was downgraded to a Category 1 storm at 8 p.m. A little before 6 p.m., it crossed the border into southwest Georgia, Channel 2 reported.

Along with almost all of South and Middle Georgia, several southeast metro counties are under a tornado watch until 2 a.m. Thursday, including Henry, Newton, Spalding, Rockdale and Walton.

Tornado warnings were briefly issued for Cobb, Douglas, Fulton, Upson and Crawford counties earlier, but they have since expired, according to the National Weather Service.

Flood warnings have also been issued for most of metro Atlanta until 2 a.m. Thursday, including Fulton, Cobb, Clayton, Paulding, Coweta, Fayette, Carroll and Spalding counties, according to the National Weather Service.

Some flooding was also seen downtown as North Avenue near Marietta Street, which is close to Georgia Tech’s campus, was underwater Wednesday night, Channel 2 reported.

North Avenue near Marietta Street was flooding on Wednesday night. (Photo: Channel 2 Action News)

Michael made landfall just north of Mexico Beach, Fla., with sustained winds of 155 mph. It is officially the strongest hurricane on record for the Florida Panhandle.

While hurricane-force winds are expected in southwest Georgia, there could be some tropical storm-force winds to the south and east of metro Atlanta.

“It will be breezy locally with a lot of wet weather, but we’re talking winds locally in the order of 20-30 mph,” Channel 2 meteorologist Brad Nitz said. “Isolated 40-mph gusts are not out of the question.”

Heavy rain and gusty winds are a concern through Wednesday night as Michael weakens to a tropical storm and moves northeast through the center of the state, Channel 2 meteorologist Katie Walls said.

“That means we could have some downed trees, we could have some power outages, especially tonight into early (Thursday) morning as the strongest winds pass toward our south,” she said.

A downed power line and tree were reported along Ponce de Leon Avenue at Juniper Street, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

The heaviest rain is expected on the Southside of Atlanta. The rain chance increases to 90 percent Thursday.

“For today into (Thursday), we are going to be dealing with squalls,” Walls said. “Round after round of rain.”

Most of metro Atlanta should see at least 1 to 2 inches of rain, she said.

“The best opportunity for that tornado threat stays to the right of the storm and we are on the north side, on the left side of that storm, so certainly good news there,” she said.

Walls still suggests metro Atlanta residents secure any outdoor items, like lawn furniture, that could be picked up by a strong wind gust.

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Michael is expected to move quickly through Georgia toward the Carolinas on Thursday, with dry conditions for the second half of the day, according to Channel 2.

The heaviest rain Thursday morning is expected from Athens to Eatonton and the surrounding counties before Michael makes its push out of the state.

Once Georgia gets rid of Michael, “we get a really spectacular fall weekend,” Channel 2 meteorologist Karen Minton said.