Weather on WACN 21 News

Metro Atlanta Braces for Triple-Digit Heat Index, Pop-Up Weekend Storms

Sat, 27 Jun 2026 08:16:00 -0400

Metro Atlanta residents are bracing for a sweltering weekend as a combination of high temperatures and intense humidity is set to push heat index values into the triple digits.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Peachtree City has issued a hazardous weather outlook for north and central Georgia, warning that while actual air temperatures will hover around 91°F to 93°F, the high moisture content in the air will make it feel as hot as 102°F during the peak hours of Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

Atlanta Heat Dome Strains Fulton County Jail, Stretches Power Grid

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 17:00:00 -0400

An intense early-summer heat dome settled over the American Southeast on Friday, pushing temperatures in metro Atlanta to a scorching 96°F—with heat index values peaking at a dangerous 106°F—and exposing critical vulnerabilities in the region’s public infrastructure.

At the Fulton County Jail on Rice Street, a facility already under federal scrutiny, the extreme heat triggered partial failures of the main cooling systems. Inside the jail’s oldest housing towers, internal temperatures reportedly soared past 90 degrees, prompting emergency mitigation efforts from the Sheriff’s Office and sharp condemnation from local advocacy groups.

Soaking May rains ease Georgia drought, but Lake Lanier still lags behind

Thu, 28 May 2026 10:00:00 -0400

After months of watching reservoirs shrink and stream gauges plummet, Georgia caught a break in May.

Metro Atlanta recorded more than five inches of rain during the month — well above the historical average and enough to rank May 2026 among the wettest on record for parts of the state. The rainfall recharged topsoil moisture, greened up parched lawns, and provided meaningful relief to farmers in south Georgia who had been drawing heavily on irrigation wells.

Flash Flooding Swamps Atlanta Interstates, Prompts Water Rescues

Wed, 20 May 2026 18:00:00 -0400

A line of intense thunderstorms dumped heavy rain across metro Atlanta on Tuesday, triggering flash flood warnings from the National Weather Service and turning major interstates into rivers of standing water that stranded motorists and forced emergency crews into action.

Roads Underwater Across the Metro

The downpours struck during the afternoon commute, overwhelming drainage infrastructure across the city. Multiple segments of I-75, I-85, and I-285 reported significant standing water, bringing traffic to a standstill and forcing the Georgia Department of Transportation to close lanes in several locations.

Flash Flooding Swamps Downtown Connector, Midtown as Storms Pound Metro Atlanta

Wed, 20 May 2026 16:45:00 -0400

A line of severe thunderstorms tore across metro Atlanta Wednesday afternoon, dumping several inches of rain in under two hours and sending floodwater cascading across the Downtown Connector, through Midtown intersections, and into low-lying neighborhoods on the city’s west side.

The National Weather Service had issued a flash flood warning for Fulton and DeKalb counties shortly after 3 p.m. By 4 p.m., the consequences were visible across the city.

Downtown Connector Submerged

The most dramatic flooding occurred along the Downtown Connector — the merged stretch of Interstates 75 and 85 that carries more than 300,000 vehicles per day through the heart of the city.

Georgia declares statewide Level 1 drought response as reservoir levels drop

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 16:30:00 -0400

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division declared a statewide Level 1 Drought Response on Sunday, citing record-low stream flows and deepening reservoir deficits that have pushed roughly 80 percent of the state into extreme or exceptional drought categories.

It is the most significant drought declaration the state has issued since the severe water crisis of 2007.

Lake Lanier’s slide

The state’s largest water source tells the story in numbers. Lake Lanier sat at approximately 1,065.7 feet above mean sea level as of Sunday afternoon — more than five feet below the Army Corps of Engineers’ full-pool target of 1,071 feet.

Heat Advisories Blanket Metro Atlanta as Temperatures Surge During Spring Break

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 12:30:00 -0400

Spring break is supposed to be a time for backyard cookouts, pool days and afternoon trips to the park. This year, metro Atlanta families are getting more heat than they bargained for.

NWS Issues Heat Advisories

The National Weather Service has issued heat advisories for the Atlanta metropolitan area and much of north Georgia as an early-season heat dome settles over the region. The advisories cover the spring break period running from April 3 through April 12, warning residents and visitors that conditions could be dangerous for anyone spending extended time outdoors.

Tornado Warnings, Damaging Winds Sweep North Georgia as Severe Storms Move Through

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 17:30:00 -0400

A fast-moving line of severe thunderstorms swept across north Georgia on Wednesday evening, prompting tornado warnings for multiple metro Atlanta counties and leaving tens of thousands without power as damaging winds and large hail battered the region.

The National Weather Service office in Peachtree City issued tornado warnings for Cherokee, Forsyth, and Gwinnett counties beginning around 5:15 p.m. as radar indicated strong rotation within a line of supercell thunderstorms moving northeast at approximately 45 miles per hour. The warnings remained in effect through the early evening hours as the storm system pushed through the northern suburbs.

Winter Storm Gianna dumps 1 to 3 inches of snow across metro Atlanta, icing roads and grounding flights

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 22:00:00 -0500

A rapidly intensifying bomb cyclone off the Carolina coast drove snow into north and central Georgia overnight Saturday, dropping 1 to 3 inches across metro Atlanta and turning the city’s road network into a sheet of ice by Sunday morning.

The storm — unofficially named Winter Storm Gianna by The Weather Channel — was centered about 200 miles east of Charleston as of 11 p.m. Saturday, and was strengthening as it moved northeast. The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Warning for the entire metro area through noon Sunday.

Hurricane Helene's one-year mark: north Georgia still cleaning up, FEMA recovery dollars still flowing

Sat, 27 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0400

A year after Hurricane Helene dumped catastrophic rainfall across the mountains of northeast Georgia, the cleanup is far from over.

The storm made landfall in Florida on September 26, 2024, and swept north into Georgia overnight. By the morning of September 27, it had triggered record flooding across Rabun, Habersham, Stephens, Wilkes, Hart, and Franklin counties, washing out roads, bridges, and entire neighborhoods. Helene is now the deadliest hurricane to hit Georgia since 1898.