ATLANTA – As storms moved through North Georgia and metro Atlanta on Saturday, several effects were felt. Check below for the latest conditions related to the storms.
Live Updates:
A Flood Watch remains in effect through Saturday evening due to the heavy rainfall across North Georgia.
12:45 p.m.: Georgia’s EMC reported approximately 10,000 additional customers without power due to the weather. This data accounts for non-Georgia Power customers across the state.
12:40 p.m.: Georgia Power reported 160 total power outages across the state, affecting 15,476 customers.
12:10 p.m.: The Newnan Police Department said a treefell in the Asheley Park area causing about 1,500 power outages in the area. Officials said a Newnan Utilities crew was working to fix the issue.
10:44 a.m.: The FAA issued a ground stop at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport due to the weather. The order was canceled just before noon.
Downed power lines closed Reinhardt College Parkway at Addington Lane. (Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office)
Around 10 a.m.: The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office reported that downed power lines closed Reinhardt College Parkway at Addington Lane. By 12:30 p.m., the office confirmed the road had reopened.
Around 9 a.m.: The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook that Union Hill Road was closed due to flooding. When a FOX 5 crew arrived in the area around 12:30 p.m., the water had receded and the road was reopened.
Flood Watch in northwest Georgia
What we know:
A Flood Watch is currently in effect through Saturday evening for a large portion of North Georgia. The region is bracing for widespread rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches. Some areas could see locally higher amounts reaching up to 6 inches before a cold front moves through Saturday afternoon to end the threat.
“The rain train is wide open and here it comes,” said FOX 5 Storm Team chief meteorologist David Chandley. “We got waves of rain tonight and storms. They’re going to be with us tonight and right on through Saturday.”
In the northwest, the watch includes Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Dade, Dawson, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Lumpkin, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Towns, Union, Walker, White, and Whitfield counties.
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Flooding risk, high winds
Local perspective:
Thunderstorms expected overnight and into early Saturday morning are a primary concern.
The primary concern for North Georgia remains damaging winds and heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding. While the threat of severe weather is lower Friday night, the FOX 5 Storm Team expects conditions to change as the front arrives Saturday morning.
“Flooding [is] possible in Northwest Georgia with that severe threat,” Chandley said. “I expect we may see some of those [flash flood warnings] across North Georgia late tonight and early tomorrow because that ground is going to be saturated.”
A Level 1 “marginal risk” for severe storms has been issued for most of the area, though regions near Columbus face a slightly higher “slight risk.” Forecasters noted that while the atmosphere currently lacks the instability for massive thunderstorms, a “brief, spin-up tornado” cannot be ruled out on Saturday.
Flood rush prevention
What you can do:
Here are some things you can do to prepare:
- Clear Drainage: Clean out gutters and ensure downspouts are directed away from your foundation to prevent water buildup.
- Secure the Yard: Bring in or tie down outdoor furniture and trash cans so they don’t wash away and block drains.
- Check Equipment: Test your sump pump and ensure your NOAA weather radio has fresh batteries for overnight alerts.
- Power Up: Charge your cell phones and portable power banks now in case of power outages.
The Source: This article contains an original forecast by the FOX 5 Storm Team.
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