ATLANTA — Storms continue to hold together over the southeast. We've been tracking severe storms in Mississippi and western Alabama. Those storms are moving our way. We expect them to be weaker by the time they get here. While the widespread severe storms stay west, it is possible that we could have some isolated strong storms with heavy rain and damaging wind possible.
At 8pm Tuesday, the Storm Prediction Center expanded the level 2 of 5 risk from Alabama over into west Georgia. The level 1 risk has also been extended eastward to include areas east of Athens over to the SC line. West Georgia will have slightly higher chance for some stronger storms.
The storms quickly move southeast on Wednesday. That will take the severe weather risk out of our area.
The line of storms could include strong to damaging winds, periods of heavy rain/frequent lightning and a brief tornado possible. The tornado risk is very low, but we can't rule out some brief rotation in some individual storms as the system moves through.
Here's a timeline of when to expect weather to form and where:
Metro Atlanta, north Georgia thunderstorm timeline
Overnight
It gets more active overnight as the line moves from the NW to the SE. These storms will have moderate to heavy rain and gusty winds with them.
Early Wednesday morning
The storm risk stays with us overnight Tuesday into early Wednesday morning. This band of rain is along the cold front. That will be an additional ingredient to support some isolated severe storms for the early morning hours.
Mid Wednesday morning
The drive into work early Wednesday looks soggy. Plan extra time for your drive in to work or taking the kids to school.
Later Wednesday morning/afternoon
The system pushes east and shifts the severe threat to south Georgia late morning into afternoon Wednesday. We will see the clouds clear out and sunshine return Wednesday afternoon.
Rain totals on average will be between 1-3 inches. Some localized totals could be even 3-4 inches of rain.
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