Flash flood watch issued ahead of heavy, widespread rain

ATLANTA FORECAST

Wednesday: High: 62

Wednesday night: Low: 51

Thursday: High: 56

» For a detailed forecast, visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution weather page.

With more rain starting to move into North Georgia, a flash flood watch has been issued, including in metro Atlanta.

The watch is scheduled to go into effect at 7 p.m. Thursday and expire at 7 p.m. Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

“Low pressure is expected to move across the Southeast states on Friday,” the Weather Service said in a statement. “This weather system will bring another round of widespread, potentially heavy, rainfall to the region. Rainfall totals of 1 (inch) to 3 (inches) with locally higher amounts is possible.”

In the meantime, MARTA was reporting delays on the North-South line due to a loss of track power at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. As of 6 p.m., power had been restored, but delays continue.

“Power crews are still on site to investigate what caused the loss of power,” spokeswoman Stephany Fisher told AJC.com. “Delays are ongoing but should lift within about 20-30 minutes.”

While volume remains relatively light on metro Atlanta interstates, there are a few trouble spots.

About 6:20 p.m., volume was a problem on I-75 South in Forest Park, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

After a little break in the rain to start the new year, another round of showers and storms is on the way.

A storm system wreaking havoc out west is tracking toward Georgia, and Channel 2 meteorologist Karen Minton said it should send showers across the northern part of the state overnight and bring widespread heavy rain Friday.

“As that low pressure center is developing out here, it’s going to push more moisture to us, and we'll end up seeing some of the rain later,” Minton said. “Right now, it’s just mostly a cloudy sky with spotty showers possible in and around the area this afternoon.”

Rain chances remained at 70 percent Wednesday, according to Channel 2. It’s currently 49 degrees.

The bulk of the rain should arrive during the overnight and early morning hours, when Minton predicts there is an 80 percent chance. While it could make for wet pavement Thursday morning, the showers should clear out when metro Atlanta wakes up, she said.

“We get kind of a lull out there as we head through late morning, hopefully in time for the rush hour to start,” Minton said. “Then late Thursday into Friday, the bulk of the heaviest rain is coming as it drags a cold front through our area.”

Minton expects as much as an inch of rain to fall Thursday, and parts of North Georgia could see up to 3 inches of rain by Friday.

“It is going to be a wet next couple of days,” she said.

The good news, Minton said, is North Georgia is in for a dry weekend. Highs are projected in the upper 50s Saturday and low 60s Sunday, according to the latest forecast.

“The weekend looks great, so make outdoor plans,” she said.