ATLANTA (AP) - Severe weather moving toward Georgia could bring a threat of tornadoes to northern counties and some central regions of the state, forecasters said Monday.
Thunderstorms are possible Monday night across northern and central Georgia, National Weather Service meteorologists said. The storms could spawn isolated tornadoes, particularly in northwest Georgia in an area that includes the cities of Cedartown, Rome, Dalton and Blue Ridge. Damaging winds and large hail could hit some areas.
A tornado watch advisory the National Weather Service issued Monday evening covered several counties in northwestern Georgia and was expected to expire at 1 a.m.
The pattern of severe weather may continue Tuesday and Wednesday and portions of north and central Georgia could see some flooding, with 3 to 5 inches of rainfall in this week’s forecast.
A flash flood watch issued by the National Weather Service covers most of Georgia. Forecasters warn the intensity of thunderstorms is expected to increase Monday night through Wednesday. Flooding is a possibility in streams, creeks and rivers, forecasters said.
The approaching storm prompted the Georgia Emergency Management Agency to plan launching its state operations center at 9 p.m. to monitor weather conditions.
“We bring people in to staff positions just to help expedite any requests for assistance,” said agency spokesman Ken Davis. “We’re on heightened alert, basically.”
Davis added that the agency has contacted all of its emergency support partner agencies and officials are urging Georgians to prepare for the storm and check weather forecasts regularly.
“The first thing people should do in the morning if the threat doesn’t present itself tonight is to check the forecast” Davis said. “It could be potentially treacherous tomorrow morning.”
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