FORSYTH COUNTY — A flood watch is in effect through 7 p.m. Christmas Day as rain continues to pour across north Georgia.

“An unseasonably warm and moist weather pattern will result in multiple rounds of heavy rainfall,” according to the flood watch statement from the National Weather Service.

An additional 1 to 3 inches is expected, with higher amounts possible in north Georgia.

Some 3 to 6 inches have fallen across parts of central Georgia, flooding creeks and rivers, according to the weather service.

A flood warning has been issued for the Etowah River near Dawsonville.

At 11:30 a.m. Thursday, the river was 11.8 feet and rising, according to the weather service.

Flood stage is 13 feet, and the forecast calls for the river to hit that by this afternoon and continue to rise to near 14 feet by this evening then fall below flood stage by Friday morning.

At 14 feet, moderate flooding begins in northwest Forsyth County and continues in southern Dawson. Old Federal and Nicholson roads likely will be affected.

Temporary street flooding is possible in areas with poor drainage or clogged storm drains.

More thunderstorms, some severe, are possible.