Flooding, Heavy Rain To Soak GA During Relentless Storms: See When, Where

Evening commuters may be inundated with heavy rainfall Monday in Georgia, where a flood watch is currently in effect.

Patch spoke with meteorologist Dylan Lusk in the National Weather Service's Peachtree City office.

He said a "summertime thunderstorm threat" could plunge significant rainfall in short periods of time, potentially resulting in 2-4 inches of downpour within an hour or two.

"When you get that much rain that fast, it's going to overwhelm the best drainage systems and lead to pockets of flash flooding," Lusk said.

Some areas are capable of producing higher heavy rainfall rates than others. In metro Atlanta, there was a 15 percent chance for flash flooding.

The torrential weather is expected to start after 4 p.m. Monday, Lusk said. The NWS reported creeks, streams and rivers could overflow during the storms.

A flood watch is in effect until 9 p.m. Monday for the following counties: Dade, Walker, Catoosa, Whifield, Murray, Fannin, Gilmer, Chattooga, Gordon, Pickens, Dawson, Floyd, Bartow, Cherokee, Forsyth, Polk, Paulding, Cobb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Haralson, Carroll, Douglas, DeKalb, Rockdale, Coweta, Fayette, Clayton and Henry.

There are also daily thunderstorm chances through the weekend in Georgia. Lusk said the storms are expected to arrive in the afternoon, not likely to impact morning commutes for those heading to work.

Aside from flooding, there are no other major hazards predicted with the storms.

"We really ask people (to) not drive through flooded roadways," Lusk said. "You never know how deep that water might be."

Updates will be posted on the weather service's Twitter page, the weather service's Facebook page and its website.

Here is the National Weather Service's Monday afternoon forecast for metro Atlanta:

This Afternoon: Showers and thunderstorms likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 5 p.m. High near 80. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then a slight chance of showers between midnight and 1 a.m. Low around 69. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night: A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m. Mostly clear, with a low around 71.

Thursday: A slight chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 11 a.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72.

Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.

Friday Night: A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.

Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.

Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.

Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.