Just before 4 a.m. this morning, the National Weather Service issued a flood watch for 68 Georgia counties including Dade, Walker, Catoosa, Whitfield and Murray.

The weather service also said a flash flood watch would go into effect late tonight through Wednesday for much of the same area as “deep tropical moisture” spreads from the remnants of Hurricane Ida.

Meteorologists call for three to five inches of rain across North Georgia Tuesday. Forecasters expect “fairly rapid rises” on area creeks, especially in the mountains, and caution residents in low-lying areas.