'Life-Threatening Flash Flooding' Possible In GA; Warnings Issued

GEORGIA — A flash flood warning has been issued for some Georgia cities until 10 p.m. Tuesday due to possible "life-threatening flash flooding" from storms, according to the National Weather Service.

The warning was issued for Atlanta, Marietta, Sandy Springs, Smyrna, Vinings and Mableton. The Chattahoochee River, Rottenwood Creek, Sweetwater Creek, Butternut Creek and Nickajack Creek are also included in the warning.

"At 729 PM EDT, emergency management reported thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 3 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.5 to 1 inch are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is already occurring," the NWS wrote in the alert.

The NWS said between 2 and 3.5 inches of rainfall had poured into other areas in or near metro Atlanta.

The expected additional rainfall amounts of 1-2 inches triggered a second flash flood warning for the following areas until 9:45 p.m. Tuesday:

• Lawrenceville
• Peachtree Corners
• Roswell
• Dunwoody
• Duluth
• Sugar Hill
• Suwanee
• Buford
• Chamblee
• Norcross
• Doraville
• Braselton
• Berkeley Lake
• Rest Haven
• Mechanicsville
• Hog Mountain
• Chastain Memorial Park

The flash flooding of creeks, streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses could potentially be life threatening, the NWS said.

"Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Please report observed flooding to local emergency services or law enforcement and request they pass this information to the National Weather Service when you can do so safely," weather officials said.

At least 2,000 people were without power around 8 p.m. Tuesday in Gwinnett County, according to the Georgia Power outage map.

Around 8:15 p.m., Dunwoody Police reported in a Nixle alert a downed tree on power lines at North Peachtree Road and Sandell Drive. The road was closed at the time.

Scattered to numerous thunderstorms were expected to continue in north Georgia through Tuesday evening, the NWS said in its hazardous weather outlook. Aside from the entire metro Atlanta, this includes the counties of Forsyth, Bartow, Barrow, Clarke, Cherokee, Douglas, Oconee, Paulding and Hall.

Frequent cloud-to-ground lightning, gusty winds and heavy rainfall could come with some of the strongest storms, weather officials said.

Storms are forecast to arrive daily through Monday, and while severe weather is not expected, weather officials said localized flash flooding is possible.

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