Tropical Storm Erika Could Impact Georgia Weather Next Week

As Tropical Storm Erika churns through the Caribbean, Georgia weather forecasters are keeping an eye on the storm’s potential impact here.

As of 8 a.m. Friday, forecasters at the National Weather Service anticipated the storm to make landfall in south Florida sometime Monday morning.

“Official forecast track brings a weakening system to the Florida and Georgia state line by Tuesday night,” the National Weather Service in Peachtree City said Friday morning. “This would result in a heavy rain scenario by mid week for much of the southern tier of our area with flooding the main concern.”

The potential impact on metro Atlanta was unclear Friday morning, and depended on a continued northward track and how strong the storm is after it passes Hispanola.

One thing for sure, metro Atlanta, which has had several heavy rain events in recent weeks, doesn’t need the rain. According to National Weather Service data, rainfall at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport has been nearly eight inches above normal over the past six months, and almost an inch and a half above the August norm.

As of 8 a.m. Friday, Erika was approaching the Dominican Republic with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph. The storm was moving west-northwest at 17 mph.

The storm has left death and widespread flooding in its wake. Weather.com reported at least 25 people have been killed on the small island of Dominica.

Forecasters anticipate the storm to weaken somewhat over the next day as it moves over land, heading on its path toward Florida. As of Friday morning, Erika’s projected path upon arrival to Florida’s shores would take the storm straight up the peninsula, dumping rain along way.