Introduction
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The highest chance of snow is south of Atlanta, especially along the route from Columbus to Macon.
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Forecasters advise residents to prepare immediately for significant travel impacts coming Sunday.
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Confidence remains low as meteorologists track “crazy models” of potential weekend winter storms.
Atlanta – Georgia residents are keeping a close eye on the skies this weekend as a complex weather system threatens to bring snow to the region, but the chances of metro Atlanta seeing snow this weekend continue to diminish, according to the FOX 5 Atlanta Storm Team.
Irregular rainfall is expected Friday night into Saturday morning, with moderate rainfall expected in most areas.
There may be some brief mixing over the northern Georgia mountains, but models now show limited moisture entering the Atlanta metro area as cooler air moves from behind the system.
cold friday
what we know
The biggest concern right now is the biting cold, according to Fox 5 Storm Team Chief Meteorologist David Chandley. On Friday morning, residents woke up to temperatures in the teens to low 20s, well below the average low of 35 degrees.
A cold front is expected to move through Friday night, bringing about a quarter of an inch of rain. While there will be a brief break Saturday with partly cloudy skies and a high near 52 degrees, a second system forming in the Bay Area will move in late Saturday night.
Chandley noted that the second system has a 10-20 percent chance of bringing a quarter-inch of snow to the I-20 and I-85 corridors, including Atlanta. However, in central Georgia, especially along the route from Columbus to Macon, that probability jumps to 35-50 percent.
weekend winter weather
what are they talking about
The probability of winter weather continues to decrease. Current forecast guidance shows a low chance of snow in the metropolitan area, with slightly higher chances south and east of Atlanta.
“We have a lot of things that need to be put together before this can happen,” Chandley said. “If snow does occur, it will most likely affect areas south of Atlanta rather than areas north of Georgia.”
There is a general mood of uncertainty in the weather community. The National Weather Service in Peachtree City described the situation as a “very low confidence forecast,” noting that there could be a “strip of snow… several inches thick” at the end of the track.
Despite the uncertainty, officials urged caution. “Our advice to all residents of north and central Georgia is to exercise caution and prepare as though travel on Sunday will be significantly impacted, even if that impact does not occur,” the National Weather Service said.
Even without snow, wind chills will continue Saturday night into Sunday, bringing a wintry feel to the weekend. Sunday is expected to be the coldest day, with temperatures hovering near freezing and wind chills dropping into the teens to low 20s before conditions gradually improve early next week.
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Snow “Model Crazy”
Dig deeper
FOX 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Alex Forbes said that while the forecast is discouraging, the potential for “chaos” is real if the Gulf moisture moves farther north than currently expected.
Forbes outlines four takeaways from the weekend:
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Low-end opportunities: The chance of severe storms is low in metro Atlanta, but it’s entirely possible that moisture will stay to the south.
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South of Interstate 20: Currently, areas south of the I-20 and I-85 corridors are most likely to see winter weather Saturday through Sunday night.
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24 hour rule: Forbes notes that models typically don’t align until about 24 hours before the event (Friday night into Saturday morning).
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Rain and Snow: Rain is expected Saturday morning as part of another system. It rained earlier in the day and snow could not be ruled out later that evening.
“Your weather apps are going to fluctuate. Our forecasts can fluctuate,” Forbes said. “Believe me, this is as frustrating for us as it is for you.”
cold days ahead
From a numerical perspective
A “cold snap” will develop over the coming week, with temperatures remaining below normal into early next week.
Metro Atlanta Overview:
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Friday: Sunny, with a high of 51 degrees. Wind gusts up to 20 mph.
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Friday night: There is a 70% chance of showers after 1 a.m. with a low of 41 degrees.
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Saturday: There is a 20% chance of showers in the morning. High 52.
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Saturday night: There is a 20% chance of a mix of rain and snow after 1 a.m. 29 degrees.
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Sunday: The weather is sunny and cold most of the time. High 38.
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Martin Luther King Day: The sun is shining brightly. The highest price is 45 and the lowest price is 24.
A look at the North Georgia Mountains:
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Friday night: 80% chance of showers. Minimum 32 degrees. Precipitation amounts as high as 0.25 inches.
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Saturday night: 20% chance of snow showers. Low 20.
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Sunday: Mostly sunny. High 33.
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Monday night: Clear and dangerously cold. Low 10.
Get ready for snow now
what can you do
While the timing of snow remains uncertain, the window to prepare is closing. State officials and the FOX 5 Storm team recommend taking the following steps immediately to ensure your home and family stay safe from freezing conditions:
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Review your emergency supplies: Replenish your inventory of flashlights, new batteries and shelf-stable food items. Make sure you have enough of the necessary prescriptions on hand. While snow is the main headline, keep in mind that power outages are most frequent during periods of ice and snow.
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Communication Gap Plan: Be prepared for the possibility of temporarily losing internet and cell phone service. This is especially important for residents of heavily forested areas that have experienced storm damage.
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Winterize your pipes: Protect your home by insulating outdoor pipes. Find your main water shutoff valve now; frozen pipe incidents typically spike during January and February.
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Heating your home safely: Check generators, fireplaces, and space heaters to make sure they are properly ventilated. no way Run a generator indoors or in an enclosed space as this poses a fatal risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
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Maintenance work detector: Test all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. As you increase use of your fireplace and heater, replace old batteries to ensure they are working properly.
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Check your community: Lend a helping hand to an elderly neighbor, a disabled person, or anyone who relies on powered medical equipment. Make a plan to help them if they are unable to travel or if the power goes out.
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Protect pets and livestock: Bring pets indoors on cold nights. For outdoor animals, make sure they have adequate shelter and fresh, unfrozen drinking water.
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Packing your winter car kit: If you must travel, keep a basic emergency kit in your car. This should include a blanket, phone charger, small shovel, treats and sand or cat litter to aid tire traction.
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Stay informed: Get live updates pushed directly to your phone with downloads FOX 5 Storm Team Weather App and enable notifications.
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Monitoring is turned off: Add bookmark FOX 5 Atlanta Closing Page Get the latest news about schools, businesses and churches. Administrators should verify their registration status immediately to ensure updates can be released quickly if a storm hits.
source
This article contains original predictions from the FOX 5 Storm team. The National Weather Service contributed to this report. Previous FOX 5 Atlanta coverage was also used.