FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A

* FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL GEORGIA… NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA… NORTHEAST GEORGIA… NORTHWEST GEORGIA AND WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA.

* FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING

* A LARGE STORM SYSTEM PUSHING ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES IS EXPECTED TO PULL A COLD FRONT ACROSS THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI AND TENNESSEE VALLEY REGION TODAY. A MODERATELY STRONG LOW LEVEL FLOW WILL FORCE ABUNDANT MOISTURE NORTH FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO INTO THE SOUTHEAST U.S. IN ADVANCE OF THIS SYSTEM.

AS THE COLD FRONT MOVES SOUTHEAST… SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVER ALABAMA AND MOVE INTO GEORGIA BY THIS AFTERNOON. THE COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO BECOME STATIONARY OVER NORTH GEORGIA TONIGHT AND SATURDAY AS A SERIES OF UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES MOVE PARALLEL TO THE FRONT. THIS WILL CAUSE A SURFACE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM TO DEVELOP OVER CENTRAL ALABAMA AND DEEPEN AS IT MOVES NORTHEAST INTO THE CAROLINAS BY SATURDAY NIGHT.

WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 3 INCHES WITH ISOLATED 4 INCHES POSSIBLE CAN BE ANTICIPATED OVER MOST OF NORTH GEORGIA TONIGHT AND SATURDAY. THE HEAVY RAIN THREAT AREA AT THIS TIME WILL BE GENERALLY NORTH OF A LINE FROM LAGRANGE TO MADISON TO WASHINGTON.

* THIS HEAVY RAINFALL WILL LIKELY CAUSE SOME RIVERS… STREAMS AND CREEKS TO RISE TO LEVELS THAT RESULT IN MINOR FLOODING. LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING IS ALSO POSSIBLE IN URBAN AREAS AND MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN DUE TO RAPID RUNOFF.

A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR FLOODING ESPECIALLY ALONG LARGER STREAMS AND RIVERS. IF YOU ARE IN THE WATCH AREA… CHECK YOUR PREPAREDNESS REQUIREMENTS… ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE INTERESTS ALONG AREA RIVERS. KEEP INFORMED… AND BE READY FOR ACTION IF FLOODING IS OBSERVED OR IF A FLOOD WARNING IS ISSUED.