Columns Drive closed

Columns Drive remains closed as flash flood watch continues through Friday

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Columns Drive closes

Another week, and another flash flood watch has been issued for Cobb, metro Atlanta and much of north Georgia. Last week’s rains closed Columns Drive in East Cobb, and it’s expected to remain closed through at least Friday.

That’s the word coming from Cobb DOT, which is still clearing out flooded areas along Columns Drive between Atlanta Country Club Drive and Willow Knoll Drive.

A message sent out this morning by Cobb commissioner Bob Ott said that Cobb DOT is working with contractors to pump out remaining water on Columns Drive, which borders along the Chattahoochee River and is mostly residential. It provides access points for several apartment complexes as well as trails in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.

“Please do not drive past the barricades, your interruption slows their effort in the area. And some drivers have caused private property damage by driving onto their neighbor’s yards,” Ott said.

Cobb will be under a flash flood watch starting at 7 p.m. Thursday through Friday evening. The National Weather Service is forecasting between 1-2 inches of rain, and possibly more in some areas. Those areas that were saturated with last week’s rains are more prone to flooding again.

The chance of rain Thursday is 70 percent, and 90 percent tonight and on Friday. The rain is supposed to taper off on Friday night and sunny skies will return on Saturday and through the weekend and into the first of next week.

 

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Cobb New Year’s Eve fireworks extended until 1 a.m.; Columns Drive still closed

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Cobb New Year's Eve fireworks ordinance

Just a reminder that Cobb County allows New Year’s Eve fireworks use to go as late as 1 a.m.

There is a strong chance of rain that could affect that, according to the National Weather Service.

This afternoon there’s a 50 percent chance of rain in Cobb, increasing to 70 percent this evening, along with some patchy fog.

We’ve had that most of Monday, and the forecast for New Year’s Day is the same. A 40 percent chance of showers is forecast, with an 80 and 70 percent chance Wednesday and Thursday.

Temperatures are unseasonably warm, with today’s high expected around 70 and the high on Tuesday in the low 60s. Highs will drop into the mid-50s Wednesday and Thursday.

The rain will taper off to a 30 percent chance by Friday, but it will be partly cloudy. The sun is expected to return on Saturday, with highs in the 50s throughout the weekend.

The heavy rains last week caused some flooding in areas of Cobb County, including along a stretch of Columns Drive in East Cobb.

That stretch is still closed, between Willow Knoll Drive and Atlanta Country Club Drive. Cobb DOT has not said when it may reopen.

 

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Traffic Update: Columns Drive closed temporarily due to flooding

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Columns Drive closed, Cobb flood warning

Cobb County government issued a notice around 12:30 p.m. today that Columns Drive, which meets Johnson Ferry Road at the Chattahoochee River, has been closed due to flooding.

The specific area of Columns Drive that is closed is between Willow Knoll Drive and Atlanta Country Club Drive.

Cobb DOT also closed Woodland Brook in Vinings, where a woman in a van had to be rescued after being stranded in high water.

Cobb officials also said areas of the Chattahoochee near Roswell, including East Cobb boundaries, also are vulnerable to flooding. This morning motorists were advised not to travel along Willeo Road along the Chattahoochee, close to where it meets Timber Ridge Road in East Cobb.

A flood warning was issued for several stretches along the Chattahoochee in Cobb, including that stretch near Roswell.

After being in a flash flood watch area, Cobb is now under a flood warning, following storms Thursday night and Friday morning, that brought between 2-4 inches of rain to the area.

The warning is due to expire around 3:15 today, but the National Weather Service said flooding issues from the rains will linger through the rest of today. Here’s more from the NWS warning, which was issued around 1:30 p.m., and specifically about the flooding near Vinings:

  • At 12PM Friday the stage was 18.5 feet and and rising.
  • Flood stage is 14.0 feet.
  • Significant flooding occurs in the woodlands and affects large portions of the Chattahoochee National Recreation Area along the river upstream and downstream from the gage on Cobb Parkway. The flood waters will be around 3 feet deep over portions of the access road to the recreation area. Portions of the parking lot will begin to flood.
  • This crest compares to a previous crest of 17.9 feet on Oct 12 2009.

A flash flood watch continues for Cobb, metro Atlanta and much of north Georgia until 7 a.m. Saturday.

More thunderstorms are expected later this weekend and into New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

 

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