Tropical Storm Cindy To Add To Flooding, Heavy Rain In Georgia

ATLANTA, GA — A day after widespread thunderstorms and multiple reports of flooding, metro Atlanta is in for another stormy day on Wednesday.

The National Weather Service has extended a flash flood watch for much of north and central Georgia until 8 p.m. Wednesday. A weak storm front associated with Tropical Storm Cindy has moved into the area and stopped, the weather service says.

It stretches from west-central Georgia, through the metro Atlanta area to near Athens. Heavy rainfall, much of it along the Interstate 20 corridor, is expected again Wednesday, according to the weather service's forecast.

On Tuesday, the impacted area received rainfall of 1-4 inches, with isolated areas getting as much as 4-6 inches. Street flooding was reported in Fulton, DeKalb and Gwinnett counties, as well as elsewhere throughout the region.

In Gwinnett, Mimms Drive flooded badly, requiring members of the county's Swiftwater Rescue Team to remove more than 20 employees from a business and move them to higher ground by boat. Water in the area was reported to be waist-to-chest high in some areas, according to Gwinnett County Fire & Emergency Services.

No injuries were reported, but several vehicles were stranded and had to be abandoned until waters in the area receded.

On Wednesday, "(a)ny additional moderate to locally heavy rainfall ... will result in additional flooding," the NWS said in the watch, which was issued at 3:20 a.m.

Flooding is most likely in low-lying areas, especially in urban areas along I-20. Creeks, streams and rivers also may overflow their banks, the weather service said.

People in flood-prone areas are urged to keep up with the latest weather forecasts and be prepared to act.

Counties covered by Wednesday flash flood watch include Barrow, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Gwinnett, Fulton, Haralson and Paulding.

Wednesday's forecast for metro Atlanta calls for a 60 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms. Thunderstorms will be most likely after 3 p.m., according to the forecast.

Showers are likely Wednesday evening, with a chance of more thunderstorms after 8 p.m.

Tropical Storm Cindy has strengthened over the Gulf of Mexico, bringing with it a chance for life-threatening flooding along the Gulf Coast. Cindy is projected to make landfall at Sabine Pass, in far east Texas, late Wednesday or early Thursday.

Rain from the storm is expected to spread north and east as the week goes on. Pushed by a cold front, rains from Cindy are expected to soak much of the South between now and Saturday.

Image via National Weather Service