Overview
- A concentrated, slow-moving storm produced intense downpours that flooded roadways and forced lane closures on the Downtown Connector during Wednesday’s evening commute.
- Traffic cameras from the Georgia Department of Transportation showed water rising in minutes near the Baker Street overpass, leaving multiple cars stalled and one Waymo vehicle trapped on North Avenue.
- Several on-scene rescues took place, including a Good Samaritan who carried a stranded driver to safety and a veteran who piggybacked a woman from a submerged car; officials reported no serious injuries.
- City and state crews said clogged storm drains full of debris after weeks of dry weather worsened runoff, and radar estimates showed some spots received nearly 3 inches of rain in about an hour.
- By Thursday most major roads had reopened, but officials continue to monitor conditions from an Integrated Command Center and warn that more scattered heavy storms could recreate localized flash flooding over the holiday weekend.