The metro area has already seen a lot of rain over the last few days, which is keeping the ground soggy. That means it won’t take much for vulnerable trees to come down. In fact, one family in southeast Atlanta’s Ormewood Park neighborhood already woke up to a tree crashing down onto their car Wednesday.
“We heard it around 4 o’clock this morning,” Bobbin Eastwood said. “The tree canopy is wonderful, but trees constantly fall in this neighborhood.”
Steadier rain arrives for the commute home around 4 p.m. or 5 p.m. Later in the evening, however, heavier rain moves in and a low risk for severe storms will follow.
“The main severe weather risk will be well to our west,” Monahan said.
Parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama are under a Level 4 of 5 risk for severe storms. That means several tornadoes or intense thunderstorms are likely, according to the National Weather Service. That level of risk is reserved for days with several supercells that produce intense tornadoes, very large hail or widespread damaging winds.
For us, however, the severe weather risk weakens as it moves closer, Monahan said. By the time it arrives in the metro, we’ll be under a Level 1 of 5 risk. That’s thanks to the first line of heavier rain that should help cool down air temperatures ahead of a cold front that is pushing the storms across the southeast.
Remember, tornadic conditions are more likely when warm and cool air clash.
“It is possible that this (initial rain) is going to settle down the atmosphere enough to limit our severe weather risks overnight,” Monahan said. “We’re going to hope that happens.”
The final line of stronger storms is expected overnight around 4 a.m., according to the forecast.
Damaging wind gusts and heavy rain will be the main concern for these storms.
“And while the tornado risk overall is low, it’s not zero,” Monahan said.
The possibility for severe weather will linger into Thursday’s mid to late morning hours as it extends…
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