Storm floods Atlanta freeway, strands motorists (PHOTOS, VIDEO)
A severe thunderstorm moving through northern Georgia has caused flash flooding on major roads in Atlanta, stranding motorists during the evening rush hour.
Thunderstorm warnings on Friday afternoon predicted 60 mph (96 kph) winds and 1-inch (2.5 cm) hail. The heavy storm dumped over 2 inches (5 cm) of rain on the city in less than an hour.
Downtown #atl connector almost entirely flooded - two abandoned cars in northbound lanes. @ajc@wsbtvpic.twitter.com/94hdcx930f
— Ryan Stultz (@ryan_stultz) July 6, 2018
1-2 inches of rain in the last 90 minutes - about 1/3 of what we get for the month of the July! Piling up near the Downtown Connector, pic from @ryan_stultz. #StormWatchOn2pic.twitter.com/sKmL708UgJ
— Glenn Burns (@GlennBurnsWSB) July 6, 2018
A dramatic video by the Atlanta Fire Department showed firefighters rescuing a driver from a stranded vehicle in the southern suburbs.
Northside Drive near Jett Street. 2 lanes of Northside Drive NB blocked due to flooding. #AFRDpic.twitter.com/KOvL4uVTY4
— Atlanta Fire Rescue (@ATLFireRescue) July 6, 2018
*VIDEO* Atlanta Fire Swiftwater 11 team rescues 1 person from vehicle with their Tower ladder. Multiple calls for vehicles in water over the past hour for #AFRD. pic.twitter.com/QC9whrGe9E
— Atlanta Fire Rescue (@ATLFireRescue) July 6, 2018
Though the waters are slowly receding, the authorities are warning motorists to “turn around, don’t drown” if they encounter a flooded section of roadway.
Flash flooding on NB Downtown Connector right before exit 249B. This was taken on 7/6/18 around 5:30pm by Carol Walcher. Thank you for sharing @FOX5Atlanta#fox5storm Remember, turn around don’t drown #flooding#atlantapic.twitter.com/njZYxUireU
— Ryan Beesley (@RyanBeesleyFox5) July 6, 2018
Well this makes the Friday afternoon commute real fun in Atlanta. 😲😒😣 the flooding is real y'all. Turn around don't drown! 😲 I had to walk in thigh high water on some streets in Inman Park like it was New Orleans 🙅🙅🙅 #atltraffic#flooding#summerpopupspic.twitter.com/OKONPaRvGl
— Lura McCoy (@luramccoy81) July 6, 2018
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