The deadly storm system that ravaged Middle Tennessee overnight has moved out of metro Atlanta, but the system’s effects might be felt for the next two days.
A flash flood watch was issued for 100 counties, including most of metro Atlanta, Middle Georgia and South Georgia, according to the National Weather Service. It will go into effect at 7 a.m. Wednesday and last until 1 p.m. Thursday, with some South Georgia counties remaining under the watch until Thursday night.
Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fayette, Fulton, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale and Spalding counties are among those under the watch.
The system devastated Tennessee overnight, causing outbreaks of tornadoes that killed at least 22 people, according to authorities in that state. That tornado risk is minimal in Georgia, as the storms move southeast of metro Atlanta.
“There could be an isolated brief spinup tornado (south of metro Atlanta), but again that risk is very low,” Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan said. “That’s great news, because when we see what happened in Nashville overnight, we really dodged a bullet with this one.”
Two people are confirmed dead after a strong tornado hit an area just east of downtown Nashville. In Putnam County, about 80 miles east of Nashville, another 14 were killed, according to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.
RELATED: Deadly tornadoes strike Nashville, central Tennessee early Tuesday morning
Some sunshine has warmed up metro Atlanta quickly, with Atlanta hitting 71 degrees, according to Channel 2. Clouds are predicted to fill in overnight ahead of the next weather system, which brings a 70% chance of showers Wednesday night into Thursday.
“This (system) won’t have storms, but the chance for heavy rain and flooding increases later this week,” Monahan said.
There are no major traffic problems on metro Atlanta interstates ahead of Tuesday's evening commute, the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center reported.
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