Metro Atlanta braces for impact as hurricane watch issued for Gulf Coast

Georgia is in for a very wet few days as a line of storms arrives Wednesday ahead of what is expected to become Hurricane Helene on Thursday.

Tropical storm and hurricane watches have already been issued along the northeastern Gulf Coast as the storm — still categorized as Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine — approaches, according to the National Hurricane Center. It is expected to strengthen Wednesday and make landfall, potentially as a Category 3 hurricane, on Thursday. It’ll be the eighth-named storm of this year’s Atlantic hurricane season.

While its heaviest impact will be felt along the coast and in South Georgia, metro Atlanta is well within its projected path, and it could bring loads of rain and a marginal risk for tornadoes.

The rain will be welcomed as the state’s northern half is under moderate to severe drought conditions, especially after yet another day with highs topping 90 degrees on Tuesday.

“Less than 2 inches of rain has fallen in metro Atlanta just in the last couple of months,” Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan said. “We don’t need it all to come back at once, but in a lot of ways, it’s kind of looking that way.”

The first line of heavy rain is expected to blanket northwest Georgia on Wednesday morning, dumping about 2 inches of rain with some areas potentially seeing up to 4 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

“This is before the tropical system even gets here,” Monahan said.

By Wednesday night, more bands of rain are expected, bumping rainfall totals to 7 inches or more in some locations. In fact, from Thursday to Friday mornings, there will be a Level 3 of 4 risk for excessive rainfall along and east of a line from Columbus to Marietta and Gainesville, the NWS warns. That means there is a potential for flash and river flooding.

As the storm approaches landfall Thursday, there will be the potential for life-threatening storm surge and damaging hurricane-force winds along the Florida Panhandle.

Further north, isolated flash and urban flooding is possible across the southern Appalachians and the Tennessee Valley.

By Friday, the storm will start to dissipate, but clouds and rain will remain in the forecast through early next week. That will keep high temperatures in the mid-70s to mid-80s, with even lower temps in the mountains.

How to prepare

While forecasters work to nail down more information about the storm’s eventual path and intensity, several South Georgia counties are already urging residents to prepare for potential hurricane-force winds to hit areas struck by Hurricane Debby last month.

The NWS has tips to ensure you, your family and your property are prepared to weather the storm — even if that means evacuating. Residents should make sure their devices are fully charged; store or secure outdoor objects; gather supplies including nonperishable food, water and medicine; and determine an emergency evacuation route. The National Hurricane Center has more tips here.

You can find Red Cross evacuation maps for your county and state here: Alabama, Florida, and Georgia.

Updated forecast path