Metro Atlantans woke up to mild temperatures and soggy conditions Thursday morning, with much of the area under a flood watch or warning.
Bands of heavy rain will be moving across the area throughout the day. A flood warning was issued or scheduled for several metro waterways, including Big Creek in Fulton and Forsyth counties, Noses Creek in Cobb County and Sweetwater Creek in Douglas and Cobb counties.
Large portions of the Big Creek Greenway from near Cumming to Alpharetta and Roswell started to flood Thursday morning, the National Weather Service reported. Before the warning expires Sunday afternoon, forecasters caution that areas under Ga. 400 and McFarland Road will be under about 2 feet of water, and a portion of the sidewalk under Majors Road will be covered with 3 feet of water. Backyards of homes off Seale Drive and Gunter Court, along with portions of the Golf Club of Georgia, are also expected to flood.
In Cobb, Noses Creek at Powder Springs Road is under a flood warning until Friday morning. A walkway that runs along the creek could get covered by up to 4 feet of water, the NWS warns.
Late tonight, a warning goes into effect for Sweetwater Creek near Austell and will remain in place through early Saturday. Minor flooding is expected in surrounding woods and fields near the I-20 bridge, which could affect a paintball playing field just downstream of the bridge, according to the NWS. Portions of Woodrow Wilson Park on Mount Vernon Road could also experience flooding due to water backing up in ditches.
If you encounter flooded roads, turn around. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.
For more detailed information about flood warnings in your area, check the NWS watches, warnings and advisories.
Elsewhere, a majority of the metro area and North Georgia remain under a flood watch, which has been extended through Saturday evening, according to the NWS. Southwestern parts of the metro may be spared.
Several waves of showers and thunderstorms will bring between 2 and 4 inches of rain, according to the forecast, with some locations that see multiple storms receiving up to 5 inches.
As for the timing, we will get a bit of a break from the showers around noon. It won’t go away completely, but some areas may even see some sunshine peeking through the clouds. With a high near 70 degrees, if you’re lucky enough to be under one of those sunny spots, it would be a good opportunity to get outside and enjoy the spring-like weather if you can.
More widespread rain returns by the late afternoon and some areas on the western edge of the state could see slightly stronger impacts as heavier storms approach from Alabama but weaken as they reach the metro area.
“We have a small chance for a few thunderstorms — nothing severe, but maybe some claps of thunder later in the day for our western counties,” Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Jennifer Lopez said. “I think the only thing we really need to worry about today, severe-wise, would be the threat of just heavy downpours.”
Credit: John Spink / John.Spink@ajc.com
Credit: John Spink / John.Spink@ajc.com
Most showers should clear out by this evening. We’ll repeat the pattern Friday, though less rain is expected and it should break up around midday. Another round of widespread downpours arrives Saturday morning. Those showers are expected to stick around through Sunday morning.
The NWS warns that, even in areas that don’t see as much rain Friday, localized flooding is still possible due to the already saturated ground. Those living in flood-prone areas should be prepared to take action should waters rise.
In preparation, crews across the area have been working to clear storm drains, and officials in Brookhaven are warning people to steer clear of Peachtree Creek, which is labeled a flood zone, Channel 2 Action News reported.
On Thursday morning, officials said an “unclothed” man was found semi-conscious in a DeKalb County creek amid rising waters in the 4000 block of Pleasantdale Road.
“The man’s head was luckily above water, as his body rest on the embankment,” DeKalb Fire Capt. Jaeson Daniels said. “Crews were able to extend a ladder down to the body of water to then rescue (him).”
The man, who was believed to live in a nearby homeless encampment, was in critical condition at the scene, but “drastically improved” while being taken to the hospital, Daniels said. His identity was not released.
Credit: WSBTV Videos
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