Georgia Weather Forecast: Strong Winds, Heavy Rain In Atlanta; Hurricane Watch In Savannah

ATLANTA, GA -- Weather forecasters are calling Hurricane Irma a Category 4 monster that could break records for destruction and mayhem when it passes through Florida this weekend. By the time it reaches Georgia it should have petered out to a tropical storm system that will complicate the lives of thousands of residents of the Sunshine State who fled the storm to the north, jamming the highways and causing gasoline shortages.

The hurricane brought 180-mile-per-hour winds and sheets of rain as it moved past Puerto Rico on Thursday, according to media reports and hovered over Cuba Saturday morning. When Irma reaches Georgia early next week, it will bring inches of rain, a risk of tornadoes and winds guaranteed to make the start of the work week a pain.

In southeast Georgia, the National Weather Service has issued at storm surge watch and a hurricane watch for the Savannah region. (See full details below.) Three to five feet of water could surge onto parts of Savannah and Tybee Island Sunday morning, while tropical storm-strength winds will buffet the area Monday into Tuesday.

The National Hurricane Center predicted Saturday that Irma has the potential to bring two to 10 inches of rain to the Atlanta metro area, while Florida is bracing for more than 20 inches. Winds will gust to 60 mph from Monday after noon into Tuesday morning, forecasts say.

The Atlanta area will likely begin to see signs of the storm Sunday. Winds will pick up to “squalls of torrential rain later Monday into Tuesday,” according to Channel 2 meteorologist Brad Nitz. Atlanta will feel wind gusts of 50-55 mph, and up to six inches of rain, which increases the chance of tornadoes, he said.

Weather Alerts For Southeast Georgia:

A Storm Surge Watch was issued Saturday for the Savannah area, which means hurricane wind conditions are possible within this area in the next 48 hours. A Storm Surge Watch means life-threatening inundation levels are possible somewhere within the area in the next two days. Locations included in the watches are the Savannah Airport, Hunter Army Airfield and Bloomingdale.

Tropical Storm force winds of 58 to 73 mph are likely early Monday through Tuesday morning with a peak wind forecast of 35-45 mph with gusts to 60 mph, forecasters say.

Potential impacts from the hurricane watch include:

• Some damage to roofing and siding materials, along with damage to porches, awnings, carports, and sheds. A few buildings experiencing window, door, and garage door failures. Mobile homes damaged, especially if unanchored. Unsecured lightweight objects become dangerous projectiles.
• Several large trees snapped or uprooted, but with greater numbers in places where trees are shallow rooted. Some roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban or heavily wooded places. A few bridges and access routes impassable.
• Travel by vehicle or on foot increasingly difficult. Danger of death or injury from falling objects such as trees or electric wires outside.
• Scattered power and communications outages, but more prevalent in areas with above ground lines, which could persist for hours or days.
• Some poorly secured small craft could break loose from their moorings.

Rainfall is estimated at 4-8 inches, with locally higher amounts possible.

Storm surge watch:

A Storm Surge Watch means life-threatening inundation levels are possible in Savannah, Tybee Island and Ossabaw Island, the weather service says.

During the watch there is the potential for 3-5 feet of water above ground within surge-prone areas. The most likely time for the surge begins Sunday morning.

Atlanta forecast:

The weather service says the storm will take shape by Monday in Atlanta with showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 8 a.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 67. Windy, with a northeast wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Monday night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 60. Windy. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Tuesday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 68. Windy. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Tuesday night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.

Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 75.

Also See: Georgia Coastal Residents Instructed To Evacuate

Patch Editor Chris Gaudet contributed to this article.

Images courtesy National Weather Service