Confidence is growing about the threat of freezing rain, ice, snow and sleet from the weekend winter storm to north Georgia.
A winter storm watch expanded slightly overnight to cover some northern metro counties. The watch may expand to additional metro Atlanta counties later today. The main concern within the watch area is the potential for severe icing.
Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency across the state.
These are changing weather conditions. Severe Weather Team 2 is checking updated models and broadcasting live on Channel 2 Action News.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV Weather App for alerts wherever you go]
Here’s the latest information on the winter storm threat.
timing
The winter weather system will be a high-impact, long-lasting system that will affect many areas of the country. It will start to our west Friday night into Saturday and pass through parts of Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma.
Rainfall in Georgia will occur Saturday through Sunday, but some impacts will continue into Monday.
winter storm watch
A winter storm watch will be in effect from Friday night into Monday morning for the following counties in north Georgia:
-
Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clark, Dade, Dawson, Elbert, Fanning, Franklin, Floyd, Forsyth, Gilmer, Gordon, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Jackson, Lampkin, Madison, Murray, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Pickens, Raben, Stephens, Downs, Union, Walker, White, Whitfield and Wilkes
It also includes Clay County, North Carolina Channel 2 Action News viewing area.
[INTERACTIVE: StormTracker 2HD Radar]
Precipitation impact
Severe Weather Team II Meteorologist Ashley Kramlich Said the main concern is the potential for severe icing.
This will lead to widespread power outages and hazardous travel conditions. These effects may last for several days.
Freezing rain and sleet will begin to fall across northern Georgia starting Saturday afternoon. This will become more prevalent in the metro and our southern counties later in the evening.
The greatest impact will be felt Saturday night into Sunday daytime.
The most significant icing will occur where strong wedges form.
ice effect
The amount of freezing rain will have an impact on the extent of the impact.
1/4 inch of freezing rain is enough to cause hazardous travel and isolated power outages. The damage is more localized.
Freezing rain of 1/2 inch or more would be severely catastrophic. In this scenario, travel will become impossible and power outages will become more common.
Doubling the ice thickness would more than double the load on trees and power lines. The higher the ice volume, the greater and longer lasting the effect.
[UPLOAD PHOTOS: Share your weather photos with us here]
