Flood Watch, Heavy Rain and Strong Storms Threaten Parts of Georgia Through Friday

A color drawing of a house, car, and tree partially submerged in a flood

A Flood Watch remains in effect for portions of north Georgia as multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms are expected through tonight and into the weekend. Heavy rainfall could lead to localized flash flooding, while the strongest storms may also produce frequent lightning and gusty winds. Heat index values in the triple digits are also expected across parts of the region.

The National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather outlook for north and central Georgia for Thursday, July 23.

Bonus for the more weather-curious among you … To read an article about interpreting a weather news report with some of the typical terminology defined,  follow this link.

What is in the Hazardous Weather Outlook?

The hazardous weather outlook states the following:

426 AM EDT Thu Jul 23 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north and central Georgia.

.DAY ONE…Today and Tonight…

A Flood Watch remains in effect for portions of north Georgia.
Multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms will increase the
risk of localized flash flooding through tonight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…Friday through Wednesday…

Increased coverage of showers and thunderstorms are expected from
Thursday into the weekend. Heavy rainfall could bring the risk for
localized flash flooding. Frequent lightning and gusty winds can
also be expected in the strongest storms.

Heat index values in the triple digits can be expected for portions
of the area each day.

A Flood Watch will remain in effect through Friday at midnight.
Multiple rounds of precipitation will increase the flash flooding
threat through the end of the week.

Counties included in the alert

  • Baldwin
  • Banks
  • Barrow
  • Bartow
  • Bibb
  • Bleckley
  • Butts
  • Carroll
  • Catoosa
  • Chattahoochee
  • Chattooga
  • Cherokee
  • Clarke
  • Clayton
  • Cobb
  • Coweta
  • Crawford
  • Crisp
  • Dade
  • Dawson
  • DeKalb
  • Dodge
  • Dooly
  • Douglas
  • Emanuel
  • Fannin
  • Fayette
  • Floyd
  • Forsyth
  • Gilmer
  • Glascock
  • Gordon
  • Greene
  • Gwinnett
  • Hall
  • Hancock
  • Haralson
  • Harris
  • Heard
  • Henry
  • Houston
  • Jackson
  • Jasper
  • Jefferson
  • Johnson
  • Jones
  • Lamar
  • Laurens
  • Lumpkin
  • Macon
  • Madison
  • Marion
  • Meriwether
  • Monroe
  • Montgomery
  • Morgan
  • Murray
  • Muscogee
  • Newton
  • North Fulton
  • Oconee
  • Oglethorpe
  • Paulding
  • Peach
  • Pickens
  • Pike
  • Polk
  • Pulaski
  • Putnam
  • Rockdale
  • Schley
  • South Fulton
  • Spalding
  • Stewart
  • Sumter
  • Talbot
  • Taliaferro
  • Taylor
  • Telfair
  • Toombs
  • Towns
  • Treutlen
  • Troup
  • Twiggs
  • Union
  • Upson
  • Walker
  • Walton
  • Warren
  • Washington
  • Webster
  • Wheeler
  • White
  • Whitfield
  • Wilcox
  • Wilkes
  • Wilkinson

About the National Weather Service

The National Weather Service (NWS) is a part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The NWS describes its role as follows:

The National Weather Service (NWS) provides weather, water, and climate forecasts and warnings for the United States, its territories, adjacent waters and ocean areas, for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy. 

These services include Forecasts and Observations, Warnings, Impact-based Decision Support Services, and Education in an effort to build a Weather-Ready Nation. The ultimate goal is to have a society that is prepared for and responds to weather, water and climate events.