Heavy rains kill seven in Georgia
Very heavy rains exceeding fifteen inches have soaked the Atlanta, Georgia region over the past two days, triggering widespread major flooding. Record flood levels have been observed on seven rivers and creeks in the Atlanta area, breaking records that had been set as long ago as 1919. In one case, the new flood record (for Utoy Creek near Atlanta), was more that ten feet above the previous record, with the creek still rising. The Chattahoochee River was one of the rivers that rose to record levels, and flood waters from the Chattahoochee crested over the I-285 bridge in western Atlanta, forcing closure of the expressway. At least seven people have been killed, according to ajc.com, with at least six people still missing.
Figure 1. Radar estimated rainfall for the Atlanta, Georgia region ending on September 22. More than 15 inches (white colors) had fallen in and around Atlanta.
A list of the records set so far:
Noonday Creek near Woodstock 19.66 ft 21/530 PM, old record 16.30 ft (07/11/2005)
Nickajack Creek at Mableton 19.30 ft 22/215 am, old record 16.60 ft (07/11/2005)
North Fork Peachtree Creek at Atlanta 18.07 ft 21/715 PM, old record 17.70 ft (09/16/2004)
Utoy Creek near Atlanta 27.04 ft 22/715 am, old record 16.86 ft (05/06/2003)...still rising
Chattahoochee River at Whitesburg 29.58 ft 21/1015 PM, old record 29.11 ft (12/11/1919)
Suwanee Creek at Suwanee 14.30 ft 21/645 PM, old record 12.04 ft (10/05/1996)
Yellow River at Lithonia 25.50 ft 22/515 am, old record 17.53 ft (05/07/2003)... nearly steady
Yellow River near Conyers 20.80 ft 22/730 am, old record 16.36 ft (07/08/2005) below Milstead...still rising
Chattahoochee River at Franklin 28.71 ft 22/715 am, old record 28.40 ft (12/15/1919)...still rising
The strong flow of moist air from the southeast that fueled the heavy rains has diminished today, and no widespread heavy rains will affect northern Georgia over the next few days. However, there will be some scattered thunderstorms in the region the next two days that will dump heavy downpours over local areas, and these thunderstorms will keep flood waters from receding much along some flooded rivers and creeks. It is possible that some additional moisture from the remains of Hurricane Fred will affect northern Georgia and South Carolina Wednesday and Thursday, boosting rainfall totals from these scattered thunderstorms.
Figure 2. AVHRR visible satellite image of Hurricane Hugo taken on September 22, 1989. Hugo was over Ohio at this time, and had finally been declared extratropical.
Twenty years ago today
Hurricane Hugo plowed through the center of South Carolina on September 22, 1989, reaching the North Carolina border 140 miles inland by 8am EDT. Amazingly, Hugo remained at hurricane strength for its entire passage through South Carolina--a full eight hours. The hurricane caused massive damage to forests, buildings, and power lines along the way, killing thirteen South Carolinans in total. Charlotte, North Carolina, over 200 miles inland, and a place of refuge for many South Carolinans that fled the storm, received sustained winds of 69 mph from Hugo--just below the 74-mph threshold of hurricane strength. Hugo turned northwards and roared through Virginia, where it killed six people, then into West Virginia and Ohio, where it was finally declared extratropical at 2pm EDT on the 22nd. The hurricane claimed its final victim near Buffalo, New York, when winds from Hugo toppled a tree onto a motorist.
In all, Hugo did $7 billion in damage to the continental U.S., and $10 billion over its entire path ($17.6 billion in 2009 dollars), making it the most costly hurricane ever at that time. The final death toll was 56.
Figure 3. Maximum wind gusts recorded from Hurricane Hugo of 1989. Wind gusts in excess of 80 mph (green hatched areas) were recorded all the way to the North Carolina border, 140 miles inland. Image credit: National Hurricane Center.
There are no threat areas in the Atlantic to discuss today, and none of our reliable computer models are forecasting tropical storm development over the next seven days.
Jeff Masters
Reader Comments
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LOL...I'm hoping for that cool, dry, fall weather to reach me here in the Florida panhandle. Almost a certainty it's finally going to happen.
Your Spanish is muy bien...
That's how we laugh the day away, In the Merry Old Land of Oz!
All it ever leads to is problems.
North West loop caution, big
Before the Flood
* eXtension: Protect Your Property
* Building a Sandbag Dike Video
o YouTube video
o Watch using RealPlayer
* Sandbagging for Flood Protection HTML PDF
* Steps to Reduce Flood and Water Damage HTML PDF
* Sump Pump Questions HTML PDF
* Avoiding Groundwater Damage to Homes
* Preventing Snow Melt Water Problems
* Reduce Flooding from Drains HTML PDF
* Basements May Flood if Drainage is Poor (Iowa State)
During the Flood
* Water Conservation Tips in Flood Conditions
* Flooding, Excess Rain and Basements
* Use Standby Generators for Emergency Power
* Septic Systems and Flooding
After the Flood: Cleanup
* Restoring Flooded Buildings Video
o Watch using RealPlayer
o Download PowerPoint
* Cleaning Up Your Home After the Flood Videos
* eXtension: Clean-up and Recovery
* Cleaning Your Flooded or Water-damaged Home HTM PDF
* Repairing Your Flooded Home (American Red Cross and FEMA)
* Flood Cleanup (Environmental Protection Agency)
* Cleaning and Repairing Flooded Basements
* Cleanup of Residential Oil Spills Associated with Flooding
* Flood-Damaged Walls, Ceilings and Floors
* Drying and Repairing Walls
* Assessing and Repairing Leaky Roofs
* How To Make Temporary Structural Repairs
* Flooded Electrical Systems and Appliances
* Restoring Heating Systems After a Flood
* Electric Units Require Care After Flood (Iowa State University)
There is a multitude of political blogs here on WU...check the directory.
Who never intended for politics
To clog up his blog
Though he said with a shrug
I won’t ban ‘em except for off-topic pics.
Leads to the normal name calling to try to get the point across too. Debate is not an option for some people, because "I" am always right and "I" knows what is best for the world. Talk about hypocrisy.
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OK. Thanks for responding. I was just curious. I manage a utility service in my part of the world. I donate as much as I can here local relief organizations. It is always a tough decision for me to focus my efforts on individual needs or community needs. Each and every situation is different. Unfortunately, there is just never enough relief for everyone.
Use the following selection boxes to find your area of interest. If you want all maps for a particular jurisdiction click the "Get Kit" button which will appear to the right.
Amen, I agree with you 100%
but yes most importantly, politics do not belong on this entire site, let alone this blog
Roads inundated as more rainfall threatens area
John Barry carried his dog, Ruby, to drier ground in Chattanooga, Tenn. Forecasters issued flood alerts across the Southeast; as much as 20 inches of rain fell on the Atlanta area.
(Angela Lewis/ Chattanooga Times Free Press via Associated Press)
If anyone wants to debate religion or politics, for the sake of those who WANT TO DISCUSS WEATHER, please, E MAIL each other and let this blog be in PEACE!!!
The Tropics maybe quiet on the Atlantic side right now, but there is weather going on around the world, last time I checked!!
W TN rain totals compliments of the TX ULL!!
There's something happening here
What it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware
I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down.
There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind
I think it's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down.
What a field-day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly say, hooray for our side
It's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down.
Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
You step out of line, the man come and take you away
We better stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down.
??
Ponder this, the flooding is a result of man, but not the CO2 result. In a city full of concrete, where else is the water to go?
Absolutely correct!!!!
This is not a political blog.
Awww shucks. Now you've gone and made me cry.
And yet, the answer to life, the universe, and everything is surely 42.
Hey Tex. I'll try again. :)
NAM
Link
GFS
Link
...with more to come?
I'm still standing by major in South Florida, Major in panhandle. I'll explain why eventually.
269. watcher123 11:16 AM EDT on September 19, 2009
I still expect rapid intensification from Fred's remnants.
I certainly don't trust the NHC or the other experts on this storm. They've obviously been wrong all along. "It's gonna die...it's gonna die...it's not getting past 35w...its not getting past 40w...its gonna die..its gonna die..."
Well, here it is still, about to enter the most favourable environment since it first formed.
It has done nearly the opposite of what the experts said all along. I expect that Fred's remnants shall rapidly intensify in a dramatic and alarming fashion
Watcher I hope your views on religion and politics are a tad better than your weather predictions!
Has there been any discussion about the area at around 8/43? It has slight 850mb vorticy, divergence and convergence, quick sat picked up on some weak signals and shear is relatively low in the area. Thoughs?
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