Memorial Day tributes dodged the worst of predicted thunderstorms, flash floods and wind gusts Monday as the heaviest rain bands from a powerful Gulf of Mexico storm stayed south and west of metro Atlanta.
While holiday cookouts survived the threat, we may not be so lucky the rest of the week. Rain is forecast for the next few days as Subtropical Storm Alberto pushes north from Florida’s panhandle, according to Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan. A flash flood watch remains in effect for metro Atlanta through Wednesday morning.
The chance of rain is at 80 percent for the next three days and could stay at 60 percent into Thursday and Friday.
On Monday, Alberto provided cloud cover and a light mist to keep attendees cool at Roswell Remembers, where attendance was was good, though lighter than normal, said Dotty Etris, executive director of the Roswell Convention and Visitors Bureau. No numbers were available for the event dubbed the largest Memorial Day ceremony in Georgia, but some 6,000 to 7,000 typically attend.
“I keep hearing the phrase ‘They (veterans) fought in conditions far worse, we need to honor them’,” Etris said. Attendees arrived prepared for the drizzle with umbrellas.
Foul weather warnings eased crowds at some of the most popular Memorial Day weekend events ,such as the Atlanta Jazz Festival in Piedmont Park. But there was little rain, and prepared concertgoers stayed dry under tents and umbrellas.
Rain forecast for Sunday afternoon held off through the evening as festival headliner Jon Batiste with The Dap-Kings took the stage, said Camille Russell Love, executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs
“Just as soon as he finished his last number, the skies opened,” Love said. And even then, the rain was only a light shower.
“It was really perfect,” Love said.
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