GA, Southeast To Face Flood Risks Amid Heavy Downpour And Winds

ATLANTA, GA — Georgia rivers are predicted to be at risk for floods next week after heavy rainfall pours into the southern U.S., AccuWeather forecasters say.

Furthermore, the National Weather Service said Monday that isolated severe thunderstorms are set to target Georgia and bring heavy winds for the second consecutive week.

Severe storms could arrive and continue Monday into the night hours with damaging wind gusts noted as a primary hazard, the NWS said.

Showers in metro Atlanta, with a predicted southeast wind of 10-15 mph, were set to begin before 3 p.m. Monday. Wind gusts could climb as high as 20 mph.

The rainfall is expected to last through Tuesday evening but cannot be ruled out the remainder of the week through the weekend, the NWS said. Daytime Thursday is excluded.

"Locally heavy rainfall may produce isolated flooding and/or rising river and stream levels in the region through Sunday," the NWS said in a hazardous weather outlook.

According to AccuWeather, Georgia is not the single southern state to face upcoming flood risks.

The risks stretch from northeastern Texas to northern Florida to southern Georgia along the Interstate 10 and 20 corridors, AccuWeather said.

Mother's Day storms on Sunday released 1-5 inches of rain in parts of Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi - heading east along the corridors and arriving Monday into the southeast.

"That runoff is slowly moving from small streams into secondary rivers. The rain from Sunday to Monday would not lead to too many flooding issues. However, more rain is coming, with another round erupting and shifting eastward along the I-10 corridor of Gulf Coast states into Tuesday. This new burst of rain has the potential to match or exceed rainfall locally from Sunday to early Monday," AccuWeather reported.

The brunt of the rain could be felt Monday evening from near Houston, Texas, to Lake Charles, Louisiana - then from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Mobile, Alabama, Biloxi, Mississippi, and Pensacola, Florida on Monday night, AccuWeather said.

Flash flood and heavy rain potential could arrive Tuesday morning from Tallahassee to Jacksonville, Florida, AccuWeather said.

"Motorists should be prepared for rapidly rising waters on streets and highways and to seek an alternate route, if necessary," AccuWeather said.

After Florida, there could be a pause in the downpour; however, south Georgia rivers may continue to rise, AccuWeather said.

As storms continue, AccuWeather said areas where the rainfall overlaps will be the most at-risk for floods. This could include areas north of I-10 but cannot exclude areas south of I-20.

The National Weather Service predicted the following detailed forecast around 1:45 p.m. Monday for metro Atlanta:

This Afternoon: Showers likely before 3 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 69. Southeast wind 10-15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11 p.m. Cloudy, with a low around 63. Southeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tuesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 9 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. South wind 5-10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 11 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Wednesday: Isolated showers, then scattered showers and thunderstorms after 11 a.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. West wind 10-15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Wednesday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m. Mostly clear, with a low around 60. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 84.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64.

Friday: Scattered showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Friday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 p.m., then scattered showers and thunderstorms after 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Saturday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.

Saturday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Sunday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.