Atlanta, Georgia – As severe thunderstorms sweep across the South, nearly 15 million people are under flood alerts, including parts of Atlanta. The storm system is expected to bring significant flooding, damaging winds, hail, and the possibility of tornadoes through Saturday.
The threats posed by the ongoing thunderstorms are escalating, with severe weather conditions extending from the southern Plains to the Southeast. Thunderstorms have already caused flash flood and severe thunderstorm warnings from eastern Texas to Alabama, with heavy rainfall and hail impacting the region.
Cities like Shreveport, Louisiana, Jackson, Mississippi, and Mobile, Alabama, are facing a Level 2 of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms. Additionally, parts of Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, including the Atlanta metro, are under a Level 3 of 4 risk for flooding rainfall after experiencing significant floods earlier in the week.
The storm is projected to expand further into the East by Saturday, bringing with it another round of severe thunderstorms and flooding. The southern US remains at the greatest risk of severe weather, with damaging storms expected to persist through Saturday morning in states like Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.
In addition to the immediate threats of severe weather, the storm is anticipated to bring drenching rain to the Great Lakes and the Northeast by Saturday afternoon. High elevations in the interior Northeast may even see a mix of rain, ice, and snow as the storm progresses.
Despite the intense weather conditions, the storm is predicted to move out of much of the East by Sunday, allowing for drier conditions to prevail. However, residual rain and wintry mix may persist in New England, posing continued challenges for residents in the region. The ongoing impact of the storm will be closely monitored as it progresses across the country.