Strong Storms, Flooding To Soak GA: Valentine's Day Forecast

GEORGIA — Some Georgia counties will be under a flood watch on Tuesday, while weather officials predict persistent storms are coming this week. Could Valentine's Day be impacted?

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for several counties in north Georgia, including in the north metro Atlanta, starting at 1 p.m. Tuesday and ending at 7 a.m. Thursday.

Weather officials said rivers, creeks and streams may flood and cause excessive runoff.

The following counties will undergo the flood watch: Cherokee, Cobb, Dawson, Fannin, Forsyth, Gilmer, Hall, Lumpkin, North Fulton, Pickens, Union, Towns, White, Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Paulding, Polk, Walker and Whitfield.

On Wednesday, it was expanded to include DeKalb, Douglas, Henry, South Fulton, Banks, Rockdale, Newton, Coweta, Heard, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding and Troup and Carroll.

Rain totals of 2-4 inches are expected across the region, with increased amounts of nearly 6 inches possible by Thursday morning, the NWS said.

Scattered thunderstorms and heavy rainfall may drench parts of Georgia from Wednesday through Thursday, the NWS said.

Wednesday's storms could be strong in certain areas, while an isolated severe storm in the west-central region remains in the forecast.

AccuWeather on Monday predicted about 1-2 inches of rain would fall in northwest Georgia between Monday night and Thursday.

Atlanta, New Orleans, Nashville, Charlotte and Houston are among the southern cities that could see urban flash flooding this week, AccuWeather said.

Sunshine may peek through the clouds on Friday, giving Georgians a break from the downpour and offering clear weather for Valentine's Day.

However, the rain's anticipated return will be after 1 a.m. Saturday, according to the NWS. This could make way for a wet weekend, possibly dampening some residents' plans.

Here is the latest National Weather Service forecast for metro Atlanta:

Today: A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly after 1 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 49. East wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

Tonight: Showers. Low around 43. East wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.

Wednesday: Showers. High near 55. East wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New precipitation amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 53. Southeast wind around 10 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent.

Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10 a.m., then a chance of showers between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 65. Northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 59.

Friday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers after 1 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.

Saturday: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 1 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 65. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1 a.m. Low around 52. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent.

Sunday: Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 28.

Washington's Birthday: Sunny, with a high near 50.