Augusta, GA

FIRST ALERT WEATHER DAY TUESDAY | From First Alert Chief Meteorologist Riley Hale

Published

2 years ago

January 9, 2024

FIRST ALERT WEATHER DAY TUESDAY | From First Alert Chief Meteorologist Riley Hale

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A strong low-pressure system is expected to bring heavy rain, strong winds and chance of severe thunderstorms to the CSRA Tuesday. It will be a windy day with sustained winds near 25 mph and gusts over 40 mph likely.

FIRST ALERT WEATHER DAY TUESDAY | Make sure you stay weather aware Tuesday and have a way to receive alerts.

SEVERE THREAT: A strong line of thunderstorms is expected to move through the CSRA between 10 am and 5 pm. This line will be capable of producing wind gusts over 60+ mph and tornadoes. Tornadoes could form quickly and without much warning with this line, so it is important you can get to your safe spot quickly.

WIND THREAT: Before and after storms arrive, there will be strong wind gusts up to and over 40 mph. Sustained winds during the day will be between 20-25 mph. Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down. A WIND ADVISORY is in effect for the entire CSRA from 6 AM to 9 PM Tuesday. This will likely lead to some power outages so make sure you keep your cell phone charged!

FLOOD RISK: Rain totals look to fall between 1-2″ for most of the CSRA, but there could be some higher totals. We are not expecting a lot of flooding issues since this will be a fast moving system, but flood prone areas could have issues and isolated areas that received higher totals.

ALERTS: To view the latest advisories, watches, and warnings – click HERE.

This is a recording of WRDW First at Four News at 4 p.m.

The Storm Prediction Center has placed the entire CSRA under a slight to enhance risk for severe storms Tuesday.(WRDW)

Rain will clear out Tuesday night, but it will stay breezy through Wednesday. Morning lows Wednesday will be in the upper 30s, but wind chills will be colder and likely make it feel below freezing. Sunny skies Wednesday with cool highs in the low and mid-50s. Winds will be out of the west between 10-15 mph and gusting over 25 mph.

Mostly sunny Thursday with seasonal temperatures. Morning lows will be near freezing in the low 30s and afternoon highs close to 60.

Another system is expected to show up Friday that could lead to severe weather in the CSRA. Keep it here for updates the next few days.

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Augusta, GA

Accelerate Augusta launches to drive local economic growth

Published

2 hours ago

October 11, 2025

Press Room

Accelerate Augusta launches to drive local economic growth

AUGUSTA, Ga (WJBF)- Augusta has a new non-profit to help small businesses get off the ground. They cut the ribbon Friday morning for Accelerate Augusta.

Accelerate Augusta is a new program aimed at improving economic growth and innovation.
It’s a major resource for small business owners in the area.

“I’m proud. I’m ecstatic. We have a great crowd. We work with entrepreneurs. This means so much for the city of Augusta. And I’m just so proud to be here,” said Shaun Andrews, the recently announced Executive Director of Accelerate Augusta.

The idea for the organization came 4 years ago, when so many small businesses struggled to stay open during the pandemic. Dr. Jermaine Whirl, former president of Augusta Tech, and Margaret Woodard, the Executive Director of the Augusta Downtown Development Authority got together with other partners to discuss ways to help local entrepreneurs.

“During COVID, a lot of people started what I call cottage industries in their homes. We were quarantined and they started, you know, hobbies of making things, and a lot of small businesses came out of that. And this is just a center that gives them the resources to succeed,” Woodard explained.

Accelerate Augusta is a start up center for small businesses, providing a range of resources like mentorship, financial planning and access to funding.

“It is just to ensure that small businesses thrive, grow, existing small businesses expand. It’s just to be a training center where they get all the resources they need to thrive,” Woodard said.

The nonprofit’s executive director said the community support for Accelerate Augusta is impressive and he’s excited for the new journey.

“I came in from Charlotte. I’ve been here for about six weeks and I am floored with the amount of support that I’ve gotten from the community. And it really means a lot,” said Andrews.

The building, located at 600 Broad Street, is owned by the city of Augusta and they are providing it to Accelerate Augusta rent free for the next 20 years.

Accelerate Augusta is now open and ready to serve the CSRA’s entrepreneurs. You can find more information on how to participate at Accelerate Augusta’s Facebook page.

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Augusta, GA

‘Boom! Blew up right there’: Train slams into semi in Grovetown

Published

14 hours ago

October 10, 2025

Press Room

‘Boom! Blew up right there’: Train slams into semi in Grovetown

GROVETOWN, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A stuck 18-wheeler was blown apart and dragged by a train that hit it on the tracks in Grovetown on Friday afternoon – but amazingly no one was injured.

The semi, a McLain food-service delivery truck, was trying to cross the railroad tracks when it got stuck on a hump.

Then the train came along just after 12:35 p.m.

Although the train wasn’t moving at a high speed, the front of the truck was torn apart.

“You could hear the train, see the train coming. I didn’t really think it was going to hit the truck, but that thing, you know, boom, blew up right there,” said one witness who was outside a nearby Walgreens.

The driver apparently got out of the truck after it became stuck, since police said no one was hurt, and the railroad described the truck as unoccupied.

But it could be a while before traffic is back to normal.

Police said drivers should avoid Katherine Street at Old Wrightsboro Road as much as possible.

“No injuries have been reported, however the cleanup is going to take a while,” Police Chief Jamey Kitchens said.

The train didn’t derail, and crews at the scene indicated it would be moved sometime after 3 p.m.

Kitchens said there are no hazardous materials issues and tow trucks were en route.

Traffic was being diverted.

WATCH: PASSENGER GETS VIDEO OF TRAIN SLAMMING INTO TRUCK

People familiar with the area said trucks get stuck there often. A yellow sign in front of the crossing says, “No trucks.”

A neighbor said trucks get stuck so often that the city should do something about it.

He blamed the “truck stands” that project from the bottom of the trailer, saying they get stuck on the hump at the crossing.

WATCH: HERE’S A VIEW OF TRAIN SLAMMING INTO TRUCK

Possibly knowing what might happen, several people recorded videos of the truck stuck on the track.

That’s what caught the attention of the witness at Walgreens.

“I was coming out of Walgreens. I had to come get me some milk this morning because, you know, my wife ain’t cooking breakfast. So I was getting some milk, come to my car and I seen the truck sitting on the track – because it was just sitting on the track,“ he said.

And then the crash happened.

Besides the truck being torn apart, much of its cargo was strewn beside the tracks.

Two workers from the Subway in Harlem showed up at the crash scene and said the truck was headed their way and apparently had their food inside.

WATCH: DOORBELL CAM CATCHES TRAIN SLAMMING INTO TRUCK

CSX confirmed no one was hurt on the train.

“The cause of the incident is currently under investigation,” the railroad told News 12.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta taxpayers face new fees as they pay tax bills

Published

1 day ago

October 10, 2025

Press Room

Augusta taxpayers face new fees as they pay tax bills

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – With their tax bills in hand, they came to pay, but with new fees that could impact the family budget.

“Oh, yes a whole lot. It’s going to take a lot out of my pocket and out of my household,” said Beatrice Boles.

Going on this year’s tax bills, the commission approved fee increases for garbage and streetlights.

It has the phone ringing like it hasn’t in years at the Tax commissioner’s office.

“If you’ve been calling my office and had a hard time getting us on the phone, it’s probably because we had more calls than I remember over the past 13 years,” said Chris Johnson Richmond County Tax Commissioner.

$54 dollar increase for trash service, a new $45 dollar fee for people who have no lights on their street and as much as a $295 dollar street light fee for previously exempt properties.

Tasha Martin is now paying that new $45 dollar streetlight fee on top of the new trash fee.

“I know everything is going up but this is insane. It hurts, especially when we work hard for what we do have, and every year you see the taxes go up,” said Martin.

The new streetlight fees for churches, up to nearly $3,000 dollars, have pastors not feeling blessed.

“At this time I’m pastoring a small church who’s struggling now. It’s not going to be good for us because we’re already hurting,” said Reverend Larry Fryer.

But, like it or not, taxpayers have bills to pay and new fees to cover.

“Yeah, we are concerned but what can we do about it, you know? It’s the good old boy system. It is what it is,” said Anthony Williams.

They are paying for services but many without a smile.

In Augusta George Eskola, WJBF NewsChannel 6.

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