Tropical Storm Warning Issued For Atlanta Metro: Hurricane Zeta

ATLANTA, GA — The remnants of Hurricane Zeta are expected to bring tropical storm-strength winds and rain to the Atlanta region late Wednesday and Thursday. Forecasters said wind damage, flash flooding and tornadoes all pose a risk as the storm system blows through, starting about midnight Wednesday.

Several Atlanta area school districts have already canceled classes for Thursday. Some plan to handle classes online, as long as students have internet service, some are canceling everything.

The National Weather Service has issued a tropical storm warning for many counties around Atlanta, generally along and to the north of I-85. The core of the storm is forecast to pass over the area beginning around midnight Wednesday into the early morning hours of Thursday.

The first time in recorded history that the Atlanta metro was under a tropical storm warning was in September 2017 as Hurricane Irma made landfall as a category 4 storm over the Florida Keys and then traveled north through Georgia, causing widespread crop damage and power outages.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dade, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Fannin, Fayette, Floyd,
Forsyth, Gilmer, Gordon, Gwinnett, Hall, Haralson, Harris, Heard, Henry, Jackson, Lumpkin, Meriwether, Murray, Newton, North Fulton, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Rockdale, South Fulton,
Spalding, Towns, Troup, Union, Walker, Walton, White, and Whitfield counties.

Forsyth County Schools will be closed and all activities and athletics on Thursday are canceled because of expected inclement weather. There will be no online learning due to projected widespread power outages.

Cobb County Schools have also canceled all in-person classes, which will instead meet remotely on Thursday. School and central office staff will work remotely.

Gwinnett County Public Schools will hold a digital learning day for all students on Thursday because of the storm. Both in-person and digital learners will do classwork from home. Teachers will not report to school on Thursday.

The weather service said top concerns at this time for the areas in the tropical storm warning are:

• Wind threat: With saturated soils and many leaves still around, some tree damage will be possible with any falling trees or limbs creating power outages and potentially damaging property.
• Flash flooding: Heavy rainfall will occur ahead of the system tonight into the morning hours. Soils are saturated and many plants and grasses are going dormant, so water will move quickly into streams, rivers, creeks and other drainage basins. Do not drive through flooded roads.

The region has a low tornado threat, which is common with any tropical system. Any tornadoes would be brief and weak, the weather service said.

Many cities and counties are also under a flash flood watch through Thursday evening, including: Bartow, Cherokee, Forsyth, Paulding, Cobb, north and south Fulton, Gwinnett, Barrow, Clarke, Oconee, Douglas, DeKalb counties, plus the cities of Cartersville, Gainesville, Marietta, Atlanta, Lawrenceville, Athens, Carrollton, Douglasville, East Point, Decatur, Conyers, Covington, Newnan, Peachtree City, and Griffin.

Hurricane Zeta is turning northeast and will make landfall on the southeast Louisiana coast Wednesday evening. Zeta will weaken as it moves inland and continue moving northeast.

Winds in the Atlanta area will increase from west to east as the center of the remnants of Zeta move through. Maximum sustained winds are expected to be in the 25-40 mph range with gusts as high as 50 to 60 mph Wednesday night into Thursday morning.

• Rain bands will continue to move through the area through Thursday afternoon. Rainfall totals are expected to range from 2 to 4 inches in north Georgia, with some locally higher amounts possible in far north Georgia.

Wind hazards include:

Damage to porches, awnings, carports, sheds, and unanchored mobile homes. Unsecured lightweight objects blown about.

Many large tree limbs broken off. A few trees snapped or uprooted, but with greater numbers in places where trees are shallow rooted. Some fences and roadway signs blown over.

A few roads may be impassable from debris, particularly within urban or heavily wooded places. Hazardous driving conditions on bridges and other elevated roadways.

Scattered power and communications outages.

Flooding rain impacts include:

• Moderate rainfall flooding may prompt several evacuations and rescues.
• Rivers and tributaries may quickly become swollen with swifter currents and overspill their banks in a few places, especially in usually vulnerable spots. Small streams, creeks, canals, arroyos, and ditches overflow.
• Flood waters can enter some structures or weaken foundations.
• Several places may experience expanded areas of rapid inundation at underpasses, low-lying spots, and poor drainage areas. Some streets and parking lots take on moving water as storm drains and retention ponds overflow. Driving conditions become hazardous. Some road and bridge closures possible.

Safety tips to follow

Now is the time to complete all preparations to protect life and property, the National Weather Service said. Ensure you are in a safe location before the onset of strong winds or possible flooding.

If you are relocating to safe shelter, leave as early as possible. Allow extra time to reach your destination. Many roads and bridges will be closed once strong winds arrive. Check the latest weather forecast before departing and drive with caution.

Failure to adequately shelter may result in serious injury or loss of life. Always heed the advice of local officials and comply with any orders that are issued. Remember, during the storm 9 1 1 Emergency Services may not be able to immediately respond if conditions are unsafe. This should be a big factor in your decision making.

Keep cell phones well charged. Cell phone chargers for automobiles can be helpful, but be aware of your risk for deadly carbon monoxide poisoning if your car is left idling in a garage or other poorly ventilated area.

If you are a visitor, be sure to know the name of the city or town in which you are staying and the name of the county it is in. Listen for these locations in local news updates. Pay attention for instructions from local authorities.

Rapidly rising flood waters are deadly. If you are in a flood-prone area, consider moving to higher ground. Never drive through a flooded roadway. Remember, turn around don't drown.

If a tornado warning is issued for your area, be ready to shelter quickly, preferably away from windows and in an interior room not prone to flooding. If driving, scan the roadside for quick shelter options.

If in a place that is vulnerable to high wind, such as near large trees, a manufactured home, upper floors of a high-rise building, or on a boat, consider moving to a safer shelter.

Closely monitor weather.gov, NOAA Weather radio or local news outlets for official storm information.