North Georgia Braces for Snow as Cold Front Approaches

ATLANTA, Georgia — North and central Georgia are preparing for winter weather as snow showers are expected to develop in far North Georgia early Wednesday morning, bringing the potential for slick road conditions during the morning and evening commutes.

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for several counties including Dade, Walker, Catoosa, Whitfield, Murray, Fannin, Gilmer, Union, Towns, Chattooga, Gordon, Pickens, Dawson, Lumpkin, White, and Floyd from 1 a.m. Wednesday until 1 a.m. Thursday. Accumulations of snow are forecasted to be minimal, generally expected to be half an inch or less before sunrise, but localized amounts could reach up to one inch in higher elevations.

FOX 5 Storm Team meteorologist Johnathan Stacey noted, “This will be a bit of kind of half-hearted interaction with winter as we go through the next 24 hours. Not looking at an all-out winter event as we had at least a couple times in previous weeks.” He clarified that a mix of light rain and snow could occur, primarily before noon, with sporadic snow showers potentially lingering into the evening.

Areas below 2,500 feet are likely to see total snow accumulations around half an inch, while those above this elevation could receive close to one inch. “Temperatures will take a nosedive very soon, but with highs in the 50s today, it’s going to be difficult to push temps down to freezing overnight,” Stacey added, indicating that most locations will likely see very limited snow.

The forecast indicates that light precipitation will begin moving in from the south and west late Tuesday night, with snow and rain being the primary precipitation types. “Snow amounts are going to be very minuscule. They could pose some issues to travel, but it looks like it’s going to be just kind of a quick run-in with winter,” Stacey said.

As the winter weather shifts, significantly colder air will sweep through Wednesday night, with wind chill values dropping into the single digits and lower teens for Thursday and Friday mornings. High temperatures on Thursday are expected to struggle to reach the 30s across much of north Georgia.

The outlook for the rest of the week suggests dry conditions with a slow warming trend over the weekend, while a potential low pressure system forming over the Gulf could bring rain to portions of central Georgia early next week. However, the forecast for this remains uncertain; Stacey emphasized the need to stay cautious Wednesday. “It’s really the only day I’m pinpointing for problematic weather in the next five to six days,” he concluded.

Wednesday morning, rain is expected to impact the Atlanta metro area predominantly before 1 p.m., with highs around 44 degrees and a chance of precipitation at 80%. Winds will shift from north to east at 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

The situation for far North Georgia will differ slightly, as snow showers are anticipated before 1 p.m., with a chance of accumulation of less than half an inch. Light rain may mix with snow inland, but travel issues beyond damp roadway conditions are not expected. Temperatures will drop significantly Wednesday night, leading to lows around 24 degrees by Thursday morning.

In summary, a mix of wintery weather is set to impact North Georgia and the Atlanta metro area on Wednesday, with cold temperatures following the brief winter event. Residents are advised to prepare for slick road conditions on Wednesday as they commute. The cold snap is expected to last through Friday morning before a gradual warming trend takes hold over the weekend.