I-75/85 Floods In Atlanta As Authorities Warn Of Life-Threatening Conditions

ATLANTA — Interstate 75/85 was experiencing extreme flooding Wednesday evening in Atlanta, according to authorities.

All lanes of the interstate were blocked at John Wesley Dobbs Avenue due to flooding, the Georgia Department of Transportation's 511 service reported in a social media post around 5:50 p.m. The post was accompanied by an image of the road that showed several vehicles partially submerged in the floodwaters and traffic backed up around the flooded area.

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The city was under a flash flood warning until 11:15 p.m. Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service, which characterized conditions as potentially life-threatening.

"At 548 PM EDT, Broadcast media reported thunderstorms and flooding in and along I75/I85 near downtown Atlanta," according to the warning.

"This includes areas near Freedom Pkwy, Peachtree St, and Pine St Exits. Between 2 and 3 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 0.5 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is already occurring."

The warning noted that most flood deaths happen in vehicles and urged drivers to turn around when encountering flooded roads.