WEATHER-TRAFFIC UPDATE: First round of rain enters metro Atlanta; ponding on roads possible

ATLANTA FORECAST

Thursday: High: 54

Thursday night: Low: 52

Friday: High: 67

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

The first of many waves of rain is dousing metro Atlanta’s western counties as the evening begins, Channel 2 Action News reported.

By Saturday, up to 3 inches of rainfall could have soaked North Georgia, meaning drivers need to be extra alert on the roads.

“With 1-3 inches, there will be ponding on the roadways and also the potential for some of those creeks, rivers and streams to continue to climb, seeing as they are already fairly high,” Channel 2 meteorologist Katie Walls said.

No flooding has been reported, but that doesn't mean traffic is smooth sailing, especially in Henry and Clayton counties, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

Holiday congestion has I-75 on the Southside moving slowly in both directions, the Traffic Center reported. According to the Georgia Department of Public Safety, Wednesday was the last of the peak travel days, but there may be some increased volume on the roads through New Year’s Eve.

On Spring Street, a water main break has limited travel to just a right lane between 8th and 5th streets, according to the Traffic Center.

There are delays through the area as crews work to address the issue and clean up the water.

North Georgia is bracing for several rounds of wet weather.

“By the time all is said and done, we're talking about three rounds of rain,” Walls said. “This storm system, plus another two following this weekend and into the start of the new year. We're looking at widespread 3-6 inches of rainfall. Flooding is certainly a big concern.”

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for all of North Georgia scheduled to go into effect at 7 p.m. Thursday and expire at 7 a.m. Saturday. A wind advisory that includes Cherokee, Cobb, Douglas and Paulding counties is in effect until 7 a.m. Friday.

“Strong, gusty winds could be a problem through the afternoon and evening,” Walls said. “I expect isolated downed trees and power outages.”

Atlanta doesn’t exactly need any more rain. The city has already seen more than 65 inches this year, making 2018 the eighth-wettest year on record, according to Channel 2. That’s more than 30 inches above what Seattle has recorded so far.

Walls expects 2018 will end up in the top five wettest years on record for Atlanta, if not in the top three.

Starting around 7 p.m. Thursday, Walls said light rain showers will become more numerous and pick up in coverage. The heaviest rain is not expected until the overnight hours.

There is a 100 percent chance of showers and some storms Thursday night into Friday morning, according to Channel 2.

For those traveling outside of North Georgia on Thursday and Friday, Walls expects the weather system will impact parts of the South and Midwest. Winter weather alerts extend from New Mexico to Minnesota, she said.

Round two of the rain is expected to build into North Georgia on Saturday night and continue through the weekend, she said. Round three follows early next week, and Walls said there is the potential for very heavy rainfall just in time for the Peach Drop on Monday.

“At this point New Year’s Eve at midnight is not looking good,” she said. “Have a backup plan right now because rain, at this point, is in the picture.”