I-75/85 Floods in Downtown Atlanta

Atlanta’s Downtown Connector flooded fast enough on Wednesday, May 20, to trap cars in standing water during the evening commute and force shutdowns on one of the city’s busiest stretches of interstate. The flooding hit I-75/I-85 near Baker Street after more than 2 inches of rain fell during rush hour, according to the National Weather Service and local reports. Georgia Department of Transportation cameras showed vehicles stalled in deep water, including one driver who climbed onto a car roof while waiting for help. By just before 7 p.m., the Connector had reopened, but traffic remained backed up and officials were still warning drivers to stay away from flooded roads. ### How much rain fell, and why did the flooding get so bad so quickly? The National Weather Service in Peachtree City issued a flash flood warning at 5:16 p.m. for eastern Fulton and west-central DeKalb counties, saying thunderstorms were producing flash flooding and that “life threatening flash flooding” was already occurring. By 5:48 p.m., the agency said 2 to 3 inches of rain had fallen across the city, with another half-inch possible in the warned area. (ajc.com) The warning was set to last until 11:15 p.m. EDT. FOX 5 Atlanta reported the water rose within about two minutes near the Baker Street overpass, leaving one vehicle partially submerged up to window level. The station said debris-clogged storm drains contributed to the flooding after weeks of dry weather, citing police and scene reporting. ### Where on I-75/85 did drivers get stuck? (forecast.weather.gov) GDOT cameras and local coverage placed the worst flooding on the Downtown Connector near Baker Street, with impacts also reported near Freedom Parkway, Peachtree Street and the Pine Street exits. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported all lanes of I-75/I-85 shut down just before 5:30 p.m. at J.W. Dobbs Avenue because of interstate flooding. (fox5atlanta.com) 11Alive reported significant standing water on both northbound and southbound lanes near Baker Street as cars tried to pass through the floodwaters. One white sedan became stranded for hours, and the driver was seen climbing onto the roof. (ajc.com) ### Who responded on the roadway? Atlanta Fire Rescue crews responded near West Peachtree Street Northeast for reports of multiple stranded vehicles, FOX 5 Atlanta reported. Video carried by local outlets showed a bystander wading through floodwater to help a driver from the roof of a stranded car to the median. (11alive.com) An Atlanta police spokesperson told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution the department had not been notified of injuries and that officers responded “as needed to assist with traffic control.” The City of Atlanta said its administration was monitoring flooding across parts of the city, coordinating with GDOT and using its Integrated Command Center to track conditions and deploy resources. (fox5atlanta.com) ### What were officials telling drivers and residents to do? The National Weather Service told people in the warning area to move to higher ground immediately, according to the warning text and subsequent reporting. The agency’s warning said flooding was affecting highways, streets, underpasses and urban areas. (ajc.com) City officials told residents to check traffic conditions through 511 before traveling, report highway issues through GDOT and avoid driving through standing water. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution said drivers were still being advised to avoid the area even after the interstate reopened because of heavy congestion. (forecast.weather.gov) ### When did conditions start to improve? By 7 p.m., traffic had started moving again on the Downtown Connector, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. WSB Radio separately reported that all lanes of I-75/85 northbound at Freedom Parkway had reopened after the flooding. Channel 2 chief meteorologist Brad Nitz told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that water receded as the rain stopped and crews cleared drains on the interstate. (11alive.com) For drivers after the storm, the next practical checkpoint remained GDOT’s 511 system and traffic cameras, which the city specifically pointed residents to for real-time road conditions. (ajc.com)