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UGA's Dr. Marshall Shepherd on Severe Weather in Athens, Flurries Possible?

National Weather Service

Athens remains under a hazardous weather outlook according to the National Weather Service. Athens and surrounding areas are under a flash flood warning until 6:15 this evening, according to the National Weather Service. There have been several reports of flash flooding and road closures across portions of northeast Georgia. Forecasters say river, creek and small stream flooding will continue well after the rain ends.

“There’s significant severe weather moving through north Georgia, including the Athens area and surrounding counties,” according to Dr. Marshall Shepherd, Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of Geography and Atmospheric Sciences and Director of UGA’s Atmospheric Sciences program.

“What happened this morning is that we had some storms out ahead of what we call a main squall line in meteorology. I think going forward we’re just looking at rainfall.”

A flash flood watch will continue in much of north and central Georgia through Friday morning.

“What I was posting on social media yesterday, I made the point that this is going to be a day where we have a threat of tornadic storms and there have certainly been several tornado warnings throughout the region, but I also mentioned don’t underestimate or downplay the flooding threat and that’s what we’re seeing.

Shepherd says those aren’t the only weather conditions we may see.

“Tomorrow I wouldn’t be surprised to see a stray snowflake flying around on the back side of the storm. Nothing to go buy all of our French toast ingredients, the bread, milk and eggs.”   

That Hazardous Weather Outlook includes, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Barrow, Jackson and Madison counties in addition to Athens-Clarke County.