Flood Watch Issued For GA Counties Amid Rounds Of Showers

GEORGIA — Several Georgia counties are under a flood watch until 7 p.m. Monday due to potentially high rainfall amounts and showers, according to the National Weather Service.

Weather officials said areas south of Interstate 20 west of Atlanta and south of Interstate 85 east of Atlanta have already seen rainfall amounts of 2-4 inches, with an additional 1-2 inches likely for the areas. Locally higher amounts are possible.

"Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas," weather officials said in the alert.

The flood watch was issued for the following counties: Dade, Walker, Catoosa, Whitfield, Murray, Fannin, Gilmer, Union, Towns, Chattooga, Gordon, Pickens, Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Floyd, Bartow, Cherokee, Forsyth, Hall, Banks, Jackson, Madison, Polk, Paulding, Cobb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Barrow, Clarke, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Wilkes, Haralson, Carroll, Douglas, DeKalb, Rockdale, Walton, Newton, Morgan, Greene, Taliaferro, Heard, Coweta, Fayette, Clayton, Spalding, Henry, Butts, Jasper, Putnam, Hancock, Warren, Troup, Meriwether, Pike, Upson, Lamar, Monroe, Jones, Baldwin, Washington, Glascock, Jefferson, Harris, Talbot, Taylor, Crawford, Bibb, Twiggs, Wilkinson, Johnson, Muscogee, Chattahoochee, Marion, Schley, Macon, Peach, Houston, Bleckley and Laurens.

Weather officials said residents should monitor forecasts and prepare to take action should a flood warning be issued Monday.

A flood warning has been issued for Monday afternoon for Big Creek near Alpharetta, impacting Fulton and Forsyth counties. The warning remains in effect until sometime Wednesday evening.

"At 9 feet, minor flooding expands along the creek from near Cumming to Alpharetta and Roswell. Backyards of homes off Seale Drive and Gunter Court and portions of the Golf of Georgia begin to flood. The Big Creek Greenway experiences significant flooding up to 3 feet deep, which results in closure of most of the paths," weather officials said in the alert.

"This especially occurs upstream and downstream from the gage on Kimball Bridge Road and Rock Mill Park. A large portion of the YMCA Campground off Preston Ridge Road will be under a foot of water."

Big Creek could rise to 8.6 feet by Tuesday evening, weather officials said.

While the severe weather risk for metro Atlanta was low as of Monday morning, there is a chance for a few stronger storms during the day across central Georgia, weather officials said. They identified localized wind damage as the most significant threat should any storms become strong to marginally severe.

Showers and thunderstorms were forecast to roll through the Savannah area into the night Monday.

The rain will pass to make way for a sunny remainder of the work week in metro Atlanta; however, another line of showers is predicted after 1 a.m. Saturday. The chance for showers continue through the daytime hours and through the night before a sunny Sunday approaches the metro.

While Savannah is likely to follow this same trend, showers are anticipated in the city Sunday.

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