Tornado, flood watches issued on World Cup game day in Atlanta

The Weather Service warns rainfall rates may exceed 3 inches an hour at times, though exactly when that could happen between Thursday through Friday evening remains uncertain.

A tornado watch was issued by the Weather Service shortly before 2:30 p.m. for parts of western Georgia. The area extends as far north as metro Atlanta, as far south as Warner Robins and over to Albany and Donalsonville. That tornado watch is in effect until 11 p.m.

From 6 p.m. Thursday to 8 a.m. Friday, parts of North and Middle Georgia will also be under a wind advisory. Gusts could reach up to 35 mph.

The rain and severe weather are coming from the first named storm of the season — Tropical Storm Arthur — that made landfall late Wednesday on the coast of Texas near the Louisiana border and has since been downgraded. That western side of the Gulf was predicted to get the worst of the rainfall, but remnants of the tropical system will continue to track eastward through Friday. The Weather Service is anticipating heavy rainfall associated with that movement.

Farther west, heavy rain and wind from the remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur left behind damaged buildings, uprooted trees and cut power to neighborhoods Thursday as authorities issued flash floods and tornado warnings along the Gulf Coast, The Associated Press reported.

Scattered storms began breaking out across North and Middle Georgia before noon, but stronger thunderstorms are expected to hit in the early afternoon. The most severe conditions are predicted to arrive Thursday evening and through the overnight hours. The forecast calls for heavy rain to linger early Friday before tapering off.

The stormy weather, which also prompted a flood watch through 2 a.m. Saturday for parts of North and Middle Georgia, comes as Atlanta hosted its second World Cup match. Czechia and South Africa played Thursday at Atlanta Stadium, the home of Atlanta United and the Atlanta Falcons. The venue is also known as Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

At the FIFA Fan Festival, gates at Centennial Olympic Park opened at 9 a.m. and closed for entry at 2 p.m. Because of weather conditions, Fan Fest only ran programming until 3 p.m.

Sunday’s festival activities were also canceled early because of “severe weather” impacting the downtown area.

Credit: Ben Hendren

Credit: Ben Hendren

Pedestrians and drivers should be cautious as they leave the festival grounds or as they head to restaurants and bars to watch evening games. Motorists should not attempt to go through flooded roads. Seek out alternate routes or turn around if needed, the Weather Service advises.

Last month, a burst of torrential rain flooded parts of Midtown and the Downtown Connector during the afternoon rush hour, and likely contributed to the deaths of hundreds of fish on the Chattahoochee River in the hours that followed.

This week, city officials said they’ve being proactive to avoid a similar outcome.

An Atlanta Department of Watershed Management spokesperson said the agency is “working to ensure stormwater catch basins and inlets are clear of debris, particularly in flood-prone areas.” The spokesperson confirmed they are paying extra attention to infrastructure near the stadium and the fan festival in Centennial Olympic Park.

Additional showers expected Friday afternoon and evening will be the result of tropical moisture still in the area moving southward as a cold front pushes from the north of the state, according to the Weather Service.

Juneteenth celebrations have been happening all month, with more events Thursday, Friday and through the weekend. If storms prove strong, those events also could see cancellations or changes.

Saturday is looking to be drier, but the Weather Service predicts some showers in the evening into Sunday morning. Afternoon and evening thunderstorm chances will also hold steady through next week. Atlanta hosts its next World Cup game Sunday.

— Staff writer Drew Kann contributed to this report.