Hail, Tornadoes, Heavy Wind Possible With Severe GA Storm System

GEORGIA — A day after Georgians fixated on the moon's dance in front of the sun during the solar eclipse, showers began cascading into metro Atlanta Tuesday.

A slow storm system capable of producing tornadoes and hail is targeting the south central U.S., including Georgia, AccuWeather forecasters say.

After storms leave Texas and Louisiana Wednesday, downpours are expected to start ahead of a cold front along the East Coast on Wednesday night, according to AccuWeather.

However, after a round of morning showers, the National Weather Service said they are expected to return Tuesday night and could last through Thursday night.

"The severe weather risk will continue to shift eastward along the southern Atlantic Seaboard. Storms may exit quickly Thursday morning in northeastern Florida, Georgia and much of the Carolinas. However, the threat may ramp up again due to the warmth of the afternoon from northeastern North Carolina to the mid-Atlantic," AccuWeather reported.

Heavy wind, hail, flash flooding and tornadoes are possible hazards with the severe weather set to travel through the Peach State and other parts of the coast.

While rain chances average below 50 percent other days, Wednesday night has a 100 percent chance for rain in the Atlanta and Columbus areas. Strong winds are possible.

Severe thunderstorms could transition from the west into Savannah on Thursday, with some of these storms possibly capable of producing damaging wind gusts and potentially a tornado, the weather service said.

Southeast Georgia was at a moderate risk Tuesday for rip currents, according to the weather service's hazardous weather outlook.

AccuWeather said Tuesday major cities like Port Arthur, Texas and Jackson, Mississippi, were at risk for severe weather.

"We believe there will be double-digit tornadoes produced by the severe weather outbreak, and multiple tornadoes could be on the ground at the same time on Wednesday despite less-than-perfect atmospheric conditions," AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said in a report.

Along the East Coast, severe weather could also target Virginia, the Carolinas and Maryland.

Once the rainfall clears in Georgia, the sun is set to shine in a clear sky on Friday, according to the forecast. The weekend should be clear.

As of around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, the National Weather Service's Peachtree City office predicted the following detailed forecast for metro Atlanta:

This Afternoon: A 30 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 70. Southeast wind around 5 mph.

Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 11 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Southeast wind around 5 mph.

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 77. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

Wednesday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 62. Southeast wind 10-15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent.

Thursday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly before 2 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 73. Windy, with a southeast wind 15-25 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.

Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. Windy.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 67.

Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 48.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 74.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 52.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 80.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81.