Life-threatening flash flooding possible in Georgia; warnings issued

The alert has been issued for Atlanta, Marietta, Sandy Springs, Smyrna, Vinings and Mableton. The Chattahoochee River, Rottenwood Creek, Sweetwater Creek, Butternut Creek and Nickajack Creek are also affected by the alert.

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“At 7:29 p.m. EDT, Emergency Management reported thunderstorms producing heavy rain in the warning area. Between 2 and 3 inches of rain fell. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.5 to 1 inch are possible in the warning area. Flash flooding is already occurring,” the NWS wrote in the alert.

The NWS said between 2 and 3.5 inches of rain fell in other areas in or near metro Atlanta.

Additional expected rainfall of 1 to 2 inches has triggered a second flash flood warning for the following areas until 9:45 p.m. Tuesday:

• Lawrenceville
• Peach corners
• Roswell
• Dunwoody
• Duluth
• Sugar Hill
• Suwanee
• Buford
• Chamblee
• Norcross
• Doraville
• Braselton
• Berkeley Lake
• Haven of rest
• Mechanicsville
• Pig Mountain
• Chastain Memorial Park

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 you encounter flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Please report observed flooding to local emergency services or law enforcement and have them forward this information to the National Weather Service when it is safe to do so,” weather officials said.

At least 2,000 people were without power as of 8 p.m. Tuesday in Gwinnett County, according to Georgia Power’s power outage map.

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

Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected to continue across north Georgia through Tuesday night, the NWS said in its hazardous weather outlook. In addition to all of metro Atlanta, that includes Forsyth, Bartow, Barrow, Clarke, Cherokee, Douglas, Oconee, Paulding and Hall counties.

Frequent lightning, strong winds and heavy rain could accompany some of the stronger storms, weather officials said.

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

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