Is Atlanta Flooding? What Residents and Visitors Need to Know Right Now

If you’re in Atlanta, Georgia and wondering “Is Atlanta flooding?”, you’re really asking two things:

1. Is there active flooding in Atlanta today?
2. How big a flood risk is there in Atlanta generally, and what should I do about it?

Because flooding is highly time-sensitive, you should always rely on real-time local alerts for today’s exact conditions, and use information like this article to understand the bigger picture and prepare.

How to Check if Atlanta Is Flooding Right Now

There is no single citywide “flood on/off” switch. Different neighborhoods can experience very different conditions at the same time. To know what’s happening today, use a combination of:

1. Weather and Flood Alerts

Check for Flash Flood Warnings, Flood Warnings, or Flood Advisories for:

• City of Atlanta
• Fulton County
• DeKalb County
• Nearby counties (Cobb, Clayton, Gwinnett, etc.) if you travel around the metro area

Key sources include:

• National Weather Service – Peachtree City office
  Serves the Atlanta area with warnings for heavy rain, flash flooding, and river flooding.
  Phone (public line): 770-486-1133
  Location: 4 Falcon Drive, Peachtree City, GA 30269

• Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)
  Flood and flash flood warnings can appear as loud urgent notifications on most smartphones in the Atlanta area.

2. Real-Time Local Information

To see if specific streets or neighborhoods are flooding:

• Local TV and radio stations based in Atlanta often break in with live coverage when major flooding develops.
• Use traffic and navigation apps with incident layers turned on to see road closures and water over the roadway reports.
• Search social media feeds or local community groups by neighborhood (for example: “Midtown Atlanta flooding,” “Downtown Atlanta underpass flooding,” “Peachtree Creek flooding”) for recent photos and firsthand updates. Treat these as unofficial but useful context.

⚠️ Important: Even if you don’t see flooding where you are, another part of Atlanta could still be underwater, especially near creeks, low-lying roads, and underpasses.

Does Atlanta Flood Often?

Atlanta is not a coastal city, but it does flood, especially during:

• Slow-moving thunderstorms
• Tropical systems or their remnants moving inland
• Multiple days of heavy rain that saturate the ground and swell creeks

The most common types of flooding in Atlanta are:

• Flash flooding in low spots, underpasses, and along small creeks
• Urban flooding from overwhelmed storm drains and paved surfaces
• Creek and stream flooding (for example, along Peachtree Creek, Proctor Creek, and their branches)

Even short but intense downpours can cause dangerous street flooding in minutes.

Atlanta Flood Hotspots and Common Trouble Areas

Flooding can technically occur anywhere in the metro area, but some patterns are common:

Low-Lying Roads and Underpasses

Areas that often see ponding or flash flooding during heavy rain include:

• Underpasses and dips along major roads like parts of I-75/85 (the Downtown Connector), I-20, and I-285
• Low sections of busy city streets such as certain parts of Peachtree Street, North Avenue, Boulevard, and other corridors with underpasses or poor drainage
• Access roads and ramps near major interchanges where water can collect

Drivers in Atlanta often report cars getting stuck in deep water under bridges or in tunnel-like sections of road.

Creeks and Greenways

Several creeks running through Atlanta can overflow:

• Peachtree Creek and its branches (North Fork, South Fork)
  Impacts areas through Buckhead, Morningside, Lindbergh, and parts of Northeast Atlanta.
• Proctor Creek
  Runs through Northwest Atlanta neighborhoods.
• Smaller tributaries around Westside, East Atlanta, and South Atlanta

Greenways, trails, and parks along these waterways may flood first, even while nearby streets stay mostly dry.

Seasonal Flood Patterns in Atlanta

Here’s a simple overview of when flooding risk tends to be higher:

Even outside “peak” seasons, a single strong system can produce serious flooding almost any month of the year.

How to Tell if Your Part of Atlanta Is at Flood Risk

If you live, stay, or own property in Atlanta, it’s helpful to know your local flood profile, not just whether the city is flooding today.

1. Look Up Your Flood Zone

Check whether your address is in or near a FEMA-designated floodplain. In Atlanta, this often follows:

• Peachtree Creek
• Proctor Creek
• Other named creeks and low-lying waterways

You can also contact:

• City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management
  Main office: 72 Marietta St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30303
  Customer service (watershed-related issues): 404-546-0311

They can help direct you to resources for floodplain information and local drainage concerns.

2. Pay Attention to Local Topography

Even outside mapped flood zones, you may be at higher risk if:

• Your home, building, or parking area sits at the bottom of a hill
• You live near a creek or drainage ditch
• Your street has a history of water covering the roadway during storms
• You often see standing water after moderate rain

Atlanta’s mix of older infrastructure and newer development can make drainage uneven from block to block.

What to Do If Flooding Is Happening in Atlanta Today

If you already know flooding is happening in or around Atlanta, focus on safety and staying informed.

1. Follow Official Warnings

If there is a Flash Flood Warning or Flood Warning:

• Avoid travel through known low spots and underpasses.
• Do not walk or drive into floodwaters, even if they look shallow.
• If you’re in a basement or ground-level unit and water starts rising, move to higher floors if it’s safe.

Local emergency coordination for Atlanta is typically managed through:

• Fulton County Emergency Management Agency (for much of the City of Atlanta)
  General line: 404-612-5800
  Main office: 130 Peachtree St. SW, Atlanta, GA 30303

In an immediate life-threatening emergency, call 911.

2. Driving in Flooded Atlanta Streets

Atlanta’s road network has many dips, ramps, and underpasses that can flood quickly.

General safety guidance:

• 🚫 Turn around, don’t drown. Do not try to drive through water over the road.
• Assume road damage or missing manhole covers may be hidden beneath muddy water.
• If water is rapidly rising around your vehicle, abandon it and move to higher ground if you can safely do so.

If You’re Visiting Atlanta and Worried About Flooding

Travelers and tourists often ask whether it’s safe to explore the city during heavy rain.

Here’s how to approach it:

• Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, and major attractions usually remain accessible, but specific streets or parking areas can temporarily close.
• When heavy rain is forecast:
  • Allow extra time between locations.
  • Check hotel front desks for local road and transit updates.
  • Use public transit such as MARTA where practical; some surface routes may detour around flooded roads, but rail lines are often less affected by street flooding.

If severe flooding is expected (for example, from a tropical system), consider adjusting plans to spend more time indoors and avoid late-night driving.

How Atlanta Residents Can Prepare for Future Flooding

Even if the city is not flooding today, it’s wise to be ready.

1. Around Your Home or Apartment

• Keep gutters, downspouts, and yard drains clear of leaves and debris.
• Know where water tends to collect near your building or parking area.
• If you live near a creek or in a low spot, consider:
  • Moving valuable items off basement floors
  • Parking vehicles on higher ground when heavy rain is forecast

2. For Apartments and Condos

• Ask your property manager:
  • Has this building or complex flooded before?
  • Are there sump pumps or drainage systems in place?
• Learn the safest internal routes to higher floors in case water starts entering lower levels or parking garages.

3. Travel and Commute Planning

• Identify backup routes that avoid known flood-prone underpasses or creek crossings.
• When strong storms are expected during rush hour, consider:
  • Leaving earlier or later to avoid the heaviest rain
  • Using transit, carpooling, or remote work if available

Who to Contact About Flooding Problems in Atlanta

If you experience non-emergency flooding issues (backed-up storm drains, minor street flooding, recurring yard flooding):

• City of Atlanta – Watershed Management Customer Service
  Phone: 404-546-0311
  Main office: 72 Marietta St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30303

For downed power lines, outages, or electrical hazards during flooding:

• Georgia Power – Outage & Emergency
  Outage reporting line: 1-888-891-0938
  Stay well away from any downed lines or equipment touching water.

For life-threatening emergencies (trapped in a vehicle, swift water rescues, people in immediate danger):

• Call 911 and clearly describe your location in Atlanta, nearby landmarks, and whether water is rising quickly.

Quick Recap: Is Atlanta Flooding?

• Whether Atlanta is flooding right now depends on today’s weather and your specific location in the metro area.
• The city does experience flooding, especially:
  • Along creeks like Peachtree Creek and Proctor Creek
  • In low-lying roads and underpasses
  • After intense thunderstorms or tropical rainfall
• To know what’s happening today, check:
  • Current National Weather Service warnings
  • Local media and traffic reports
  • On-the-ground conditions in your specific neighborhood
• If you live in or visit Atlanta, it’s smart to:
  • Learn your local flood risk
  • Avoid driving through water
  • Keep key emergency contacts and routes in mind

Use this information to stay aware and prepared, and rely on up-to-the-minute alerts for the final word on whether Atlanta is flooding at this moment.