Repeated storms are expected to drive floodwaters while producing frequent lightning and gusty winds Thursday in Georgia, according to forecasters.
The storms are due to a frontal boundary currently suspended over southern Tennessee, near its state border with Georgia, said Carmen Hernandez, a National Weather Service meteorologist. The boundary is gradually traveling southward.
Dependent on the terrain, storms could push 1-3 inches of rainfall in some areas, Hernandez said.
Though flash flooding is heavily anticipated in north Georgia, where a flood watch remains in effect, Hernandez said some of the floodwaters could dip into the northern metro Atlanta area. This could include areas in or near Cobb County.
Excessive rainfall could arrive in nearly the entire state of Georgia.
The flooding is expected Thursday night through Friday. The flood watch will expire Friday night.
Weather officials will then determine if the alert should be extended, Hernandez.
The agency issued the flood watch for the following counties: Dade, Walker, Catoosa, Whitfield, Murray, Fannin, Gilmer, Union, Towns, Chattooga, Gordon, Pickens, Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Floyd, Bartow, Cherokee, Forsyth, Hall, Banks and Polk.
RELATED: Flood Watch Issued, 5 Inches Of Rain Expected In GA
Recent storms have curtailed the drought that Georgia has faced lately, though Hernandez said a moderate to severe drought is persistent in northeast Georgia.
More storms are possible Saturday, but Hernandez said forecasters were uncertain of the chance as of Thursday.
Here is the National Weather Service's Thursday afternoon forecast for metro Atlanta:
This Afternoon: A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
Tonight: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 3 a.m., then a slight chance of showers between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.
Saturday: A chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 11 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Light west wind becoming northwest 5-10 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
Saturday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 2 a.m., then a chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
Sunday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 11 a.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m. Mostly clear, with a low around 74.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 94.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 76.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 96.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 77.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 94.
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