Heavy rains expected in Baldwin Co.

Aug. 29—Milledgeville and Baldwin County residents were dealing with dangerous heat and triple-digit temperatures just a few days ago.

Now, local residents as well as those in surrounding counties are preparing for what could be heavy rainfall.

Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security Director Wayne Johnson said the latest forecast from the National Weather Service at Peachtree City has Baldwin County under a flood watch. It was issued Tuesday morning and remains in effect until 2 a.m. Thursday.

The heavy rain will come from the remnants of what was once Hurricane Idalia, which was expected to slam into Florida's upper Gulf Coast Tuesday night. The Florida gulf has not seen a storm with this expected impact in more than 170 years. It was predicted was strengthen into a major hurricane and hit sometime Wednesday morning before being downgraded to a tropical depression as it moved inland over Florida and into Georgia.

David Nadler, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Peachtree City, he said during a 3 p.m. briefing Tuesday that Idalia was strengthening as it moved north-northeast toward the Big Bend area of western Florida.

The latest National Hurricane Center forecast had the storm shifting about 20 to 30 miles more west than it was tracking several hours earlier in the day on Tuesday.

"This has nudged the heavier rain axis and stronger winds back west across a broader portion of central Georgia," Nadler said.

He said tropical storm watches and warnings have been expanded slightly across parts of central Georgia.

Johnson said if Idalia were to shift more westerly, say by 10 miles or so, it could have a greater impact locally.

"This is the type thing no one can predict at this time because it's too early," Johnson said.

The local EMA director said residents in Milledgeville and Baldwin County are expected to see the biggest amount of rainfall and winds with strong gusts and lightning during storms that will persist throughout Wednesday morning into nightfall.

"We could see as much as three to four inches of rain from these storms as they pass through this part of Georgia," Johnson said.

He said there also would be some flooding in low-line areas of the city and county.

There could be some power outages.

Johnson said local residents should take precautions to keep themselves safe if electricity were to go out.

He said residents should take extra precaution when using candles.

Johnson also reminded residents to get extra batteries for other lighting devices and flashlights.

"We want everyone to stay as safe as possible," Johnson said.

Residents in east central Baldwin County, as well as those living in northeastern Wilkinson County and southwestern Washington County experienced a strong thunderstorm Tuesday afternoon.

The storm brought heavy rain and winds up to 40 miles per hour, along with frequent cloud to ground lightning.

It lingered for more than a half-hour.