Following a trend of crazy weather in Atlanta this winter, the National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for Northern Georgia and the Atlanta Metro area until Friday at 7pm.
According to 11Alive News, “[The flood watch] will include Fulton, Cobb, DeKalb, Gwinnett, and Douglas counties in the metro area as well as the rest of north and northwest Georgia along and north of I-20 and along/west of I-85 in northeast Georgia.”
With an already saturated ground, the water is likely to pool, causing flash flooding in some areas.
11Alive also reports, “Through Friday, two to four inches of rain is expected. Locally, rain totals could exceed five inches. The highest rain totals may fall across far north Georgia, including the higher elevations of the north Georgia mountains… Runoff from excessive rainfall could lead to water rises in creeks, streams, and rivers.”
The heaviest rain looks like it will move in on Thursday, 1/25, so take precautions when driving or spending time outdoors.
What should we do to stay safe?
When driving, never drive a vehicle through a flooded roadway, since there is the risk of hydroplaning, and since you can’t see the bottom and down know how deep the water is. Stay away from flooded areas entirely, if possible.
Take shelter and stay indoors if at all possible. And keep up with the weather by checking back in with us and your local weather reporters.