Storm dumps nearly 4 inches of rain on Savannah area, causing another round of flooding

A thunderstorm Friday, fueled by lingering moisture in the atmosphere, dropped several inches of rain in a matter of hours on the Savannah area.

For the third time in a little more than a week, motorists found themselves stranded when their cars stalled after being swamped by floodwaters. That included sections of highly traveled Victory Drive, which is a common problem area.

Nearly 4 inches of rain fell Friday evening at Hunter Army Airfield, according to the National Weather Service .

The United States Geological Survey weather station at Fort Pulaski reported nearly 2.3 inches of precipitation and another at Elba Island on the Savannah River measured nearly 2 inches.

Friday’s storm included a rotational wind pattern that prompted the National Weather Service to issue a tornado watch, which was lifted at around 8 p.m.

The area experienced similar flooding Saturday and Monday. With the ground already saturated, NWS warned that streets could flood again with more heavy rain.

More than 600 Savannah area customers were without power Friday, according to Georgia Power. That number was down to about 30 late Saturday morning.

More of the same: Savannah's more-frequent flooding fueled by climate-induced extreme rain

Plan ahead

Here are flood-prone areas that motorists should avoid during extreme rain, according to the City of Savannah:

• Fairmont Avenue-Hanover Street-Hodgson Memorial Drive

• West Victory Drive at Ogeechee Road

• Goebel Avenue at President Street

• East Gwinnett Street at Skidaway Drive

• West Gwinnett Street at Stiles Avenue

• Whitaker Street at West 33rd Street

• Abercorn Street from DeRenne Avenue to Victory Drive

• Habersham Street from DeRenne Avenue to Victory Drive

• Paulsen Street from DeRenne Avenue to Victory Drive

• Reynolds Street from DeRenne Avenue to Victory Drive

• Harmon Street from DeRenne Avenue to Victory Drive

• Bay Street, East of Fell Street/Brittany Street

• Fell Street/Baker Street/Jenks Street from Bay Street to Augusta Avenue

• Henry Street from Cedar Street to Waters Avenue

• Atlantic Avenue at Maupas Avenue

• President Street from General McIntosh Boulevard to Pennsylvania Avenue

• Northbound ramp onto the Truman Parkway at Eisenhower Drive

John Deem covers climate change and the environment in coastal Georgia. He can be reached at 912-652-0213 or jdeem@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Storm dumps nearly 4 inches of rain on Savannah area, causing another round of flooding