Flash floods strand drivers, close roads near Georgia Tech, Buckhead
Submerged vehicle on North Avenue
Flash flooding was still causing issues on local roads in metro Atlanta around 9 a.m. Friday. A car was stuck in water on North Avenue and there continues to be water flooding other local streets.
ATLANTA - Torrential overnight rains triggered widespread flash flooding across Atlanta on Friday morning, submerging vehicles near the Georgia Tech campus and leaving motorists stranded in knee-deep water in Buckhead.
Atlanta police closed a significant portion of North Avenue between Yancey Street NW and State Street after a car became submerged and stalled under the Marietta Street overpass. The closure, situated in the heart of the Georgia Tech area, forced heavy traffic diversions as crews worked to clear the scene.
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Further north in Buckhead, Pharr Road remained impassable for hours as "knee-deep" water filled the roadway. The Atlanta Department of Watershed Management arrived at the scene shortly after 8 a.m. to clear debris-choked drains. One resident, who has lived in the area for years, noted that the flooding was unprecedented.
While water levels began to recede by mid-morning as drainage was restored, city officials continued to warn drivers that water is almost always deeper than it appears and urged the public to avoid driving through flooded intersections.
What they're saying:
Local residents expressed shock at the severity of the surge. One resident near Pharr Road reported that in 48 years of living in the area, he had never seen the street flood to such levels. Officials attributed much of the backup to debris clogging city drainage systems, causing water to pool over a foot deep in some intersections.
Flash flooding strandng cars, closing roads
Flash flooding in the metro Atlanta area has resulted in stranded cars, closed roads and multiple crashes on Friday morning.
Crashes on metro Atlanta roads
The rain and flooding is also causing issues on the interstate system this morning. Several crashes have been reported, with multiple lanes blocked on Interstate 285SB past South Cobb Drive and I-75 before Central Avenue early Friday morning. Drivers are advised to slow down, use caution and take alternate routes as needed. Authorities are also warning commuters to remain cautious of standing water and potential drainage issues on side streets. SKYFOX TRAFFIC MAP
Several crashes reported early Friday morning
The heavy rain is contributing to several crashes early Friday morning that have resulted in multiple lanes being closed on interstates in the metro Atlanta area.
The rest of the day
The rain is expected to clear out by around 10 a.m. this morning for metro Atlanta. The rest of the day is expected to be partly cloudy with a high temperature of around 64 degrees expected.
Friday morning weather forecast
A Flash Flood Warning is in effect until 6:30 a.m. this morning. Rain should be clearing out by about 10 a.m. and highs will be in the mid 60s this afternoon.