Residents across a large part of Georgia face the risk of flooding as heavy rain is expected to move through the state in multiple rounds.
What’s happening: The National Weather Service has issued Flood Watches covering most of Georgia. A Flood Watch means flooding is possible but not certain. It is not the same as a Flood Warning, which means flooding is already happening or is about to.
The rain threat: Both watches call for 2 to 5 inches of rain over two days, with some spots possibly getting more. The southwest Georgia watch specifically warns that high rainfall rates will increase the chance of dangerous or life-threatening flash flooding. The central and north Georgia watch notes that a very wet, tropical-like atmosphere will push rain rates higher and raise the flash flood risk in urban areas and places where water drains slowly.
Where the watches apply:
- Southwest Georgia (expires Thursday, June 18, at 5 a.m.): Baker, Calhoun, Clay, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Quitman, Randolph, Seminole, Terrell, Turner and Worth counties.
- Central, north and west Georgia (expires Wednesday, June 17, at noon): Bartow, Barrow, Baldwin, Bibb, Bleckley, Butts, Carroll, Chattahoochee, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Crawford, Crisp, DeKalb, Dooly, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Greene, Gwinnett, Hancock, Haralson, Harris, Heard, Henry, Jasper, Jones, Lamar, Macon, Marion, Meriwether, Monroe, Morgan, Muscogee, Newton, North Fulton, Oconee, Paulding, Peach, Pike, Polk, Pulaski, Putnam, Rockdale, Schley, South Fulton, Spalding, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, Troup, Twiggs, Upson, Walton, Washington, Webster and Wilkinson counties.
What this means for you: Rivers, creeks, streams, low-lying areas, and neighborhoods with poor drainage are most at risk. People who live in areas that flood regularly should be ready to move quickly if conditions get worse.
The path forward: The National Weather Service says Flood Warnings could be issued as conditions develop. Residents should check for updated forecasts before Thursday morning.
I attempted to venture outdoors the other night and was promptly attacked by mosquitoes — adding to my plight. I wonder which Biblical plague I’ll be experiencing next week. Knowing Georgia’s weather, I’m betting on hail.
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B.T. Clark is the Publisher of The Georgia Sun and author of Principles Are Like Pants… You Ought to Have Some. Over two decades in journalism, he has served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc., earning multiple awards along the way. His work has appeared in newspapers across the state, including The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal.
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