Flash flood warnings trending up in Georgia
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Flash floods are becoming increasingly common in Georgia — a phenomenon consistent with climate change.
The big picture: Nationally, flash flood warnings have set a new record this year, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick reports.
State of play: This past summer, sudden heavy rains have overwhelmed Atlanta's antiquated sewer infrastructure, damaged people's homes and property and flooded the interstate system.
By the numbers: Warnings have been trending up since the mid-2010s, with 27 so far this year from Peachtree City's National Weather Service office, according to a tracker at Iowa State University's Iowa Environmental Mesonet.
Context: Climate change "is supercharging the water cycle," sparking heavier precipitation extremes and related flood risks, according to Climate Central, a climate research group.
Flashback: In 2003, a record number of warnings was issued in a single year thanks to severe storms in Middle Georgia.
- Over five days in May, officials counted "124 thunderstorm wind, 95 hail, 51 flash flood, 22 lightning, and 5 heavy rain events," according to a 2003 annual report (PDF).
The bottom line: "2025 has been the year of the flood," meteorologist Michael Lowry writes.