ATLANTA – A Flash Flood Warning is in effect for central DeKalb and eastern Fulton counties through 11:15 p.m.
Timeline:
Here are the latest headlines:
5:52 p.m. — FLASH FLOOD WARNING – Atlanta, Midtown, Grant Park, Druid Hills, Virginia Highland, Little Five Points, West End, Kirkwood and nearby areas are under a Flash Flood Warning until 11:15 PM. Do not drive through flooded roads. Turn around, don’t drown.
5:16 p.m. — FOX 5 Live VIPIR indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 1.5 inches of rain have fallen. The expected rainfall rate is 1 to 2 inches in 30 minutes. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.
5:10 p.m. A loud storm on the west side of the city right now. Remember as summer begins, if you head thunder, you are close enough to be stuck by lightning.
4:49 p.m. — A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of west central DeKalb, south central Cobb, east central Douglas and south central Fulton Counties. The strong thunderstorm was over West End, or over Atlanta. This storm was nearly stationary.
Heavy Atlanta rainstorms
What we know:
The National Weather Service issued the flash flood warning at 5:16 p.m. on Wednesday, and it remains in effect until 11:15 p.m.
FOX 5 Live VIPIR showed thunderstorms moving across the region after already dropping between 1 and 1.5 inches of water. FOX 5 meteorologist Jonathan Stacey stated that the slow-moving storm cells are stuck and festering in place, producing significant electricity and pouring down in sheets. The expected rainfall rate is 1 to 2 inches within a 30-minute window. Heavy storm action is also stretching across the top end of the perimeter near Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Hall County, and Carroll County.
Flood risk factors
What we don’t know:
While widespread regional flooding is not expected, it remains unclear exactly how hard the drainage networks in downtown and midtown will be overwhelmed as the rain continues.
Specific local impacts
By the numbers:
Radar estimates show that if stationary cells remain in place for a full hour, up to 6 inches of total localized rainfall could accumulate.
Traveling safely tonight
What’s next:
The heavy storm activity will continue over the next couple of hours and is expected to persist for the next few days.
Drivers are urged to turn around instead of trying to move through flooded roads, as most flood-related fatalities occur inside vehicles. Neighbors who see flooding should safely report it to local emergency services or law enforcement.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from a live broadcast by FOX 5 meteorologist Jonathan Stacey, who tracked the storm cells on the live upper radar, as well as an official emergency bulletin issued by the National Weather Service in Peachtree City.
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