Gusty storms to roll through southeastern US into Thursday night
While a pleasant end to the week is in store, the southeastern United States will first have to contend with locally strong thunderstorms into Thursday night.
A full-blown severe weather outbreak is not in the cards, but the storms may slow commutes, trigger localized damage and flooding and disrupt after-school practices and other outdoor plans.
Most of the storms will center over Georgia and eastern Alabama into Thursday evening.
Residents in Auburn, Alabama; and Atlanta, Albany, Athens, Augusta and Macon, Georgia; should keep a close eye to the sky and stay up to date with the latest local severe weather alerts.
Only a small number of storms along this corridor may contain winds strong enough to topple trees and power lines. A larger number of storms are expected to unleash downpours and small hail.
Motorists on portions of interstates 20, 75 and 85 will need to slow down to avoid the risk of hydroplaning.
The threat for gusty storms will diminish quickly after dark, with mainly a soaking rain event in store from Columbia, South Carolina, to Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh, North Carolina; on Thursday night.
"Locally drenching thunderstorms may survive after dark in portions of the Carolinas, where the greatest risks will be from flash and urban flooding," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
Enough rain can fall to trigger urban flooding, especially in areas, such as Atlanta and Charlotte, North Carolina, that have been doused in recent days.
More rain fell in downtown Atlanta from Sunday to Tuesday (4.75 inches) than what typically falls during the entire month of April (3.36 inches).
Tranquil weather will return to the Southern states on Friday and persist right into the beginning of May, accompanied by a big warmup next week.
However, residents farther west over the Central states will need to be on guard for one or more severe weather events next week.
