Cold Temps Chill GA, Bring First Freeze: Latest Forecast

ATLANTA, GA — About a month before winter officially starts, weather officials told Patch that Georgia will experience below-freezing temperatures for the first time this fall.

The frigid weather will linger through the weekend and into early next week.

On Friday night, north and central Georgia residents can expect a low temperature of 28 degrees, according to the National Weather Service's forecast.

Throughout the forthcoming days, high temperatures may not surpass 53 degrees, and low temperatures may not rise above 31 degrees.

NWS meteorologist Carmen Hernandez told Patch the dropping temperatures are due to surface high pressure from Canada that is bringing cold air behind a cold front into Georgia.

During the piercing cold, she urged residents to be mindful of the four Ps: pipes, pets, people and plants.

No advisories had been issued for north and central Georgia as of early Friday afternoon.

Hernandez said the Georgia forecast is not considered to be an arctic blast, unlike in the North, where the NWS Climate Prediction Center is forecasting 15-25 below-average temperatures in the northern Plains.

Cold weather advisories were issued in North Dakota on Friday morning, and light snow covered parts of the central Appalachians, according to the prediction center. Light to moderate snow on Saturday is expected to blanket areas from the middle Mississippi Valley to the central Appalachians.

Below Georgia, Florida residents on Friday were predicted to battle storms moving along the central Gulf Coast.

Georgia could warm up by Thursday, Hernandez said.

The NWS provided the following extreme cold safety tips:

• Minimize travel.
• Stay indoors during the worst part of the extreme cold.
• Keep a winter survival kit in your vehicle if you must travel.
• Check tire pressure, antifreeze levels, heater/defroster, etc.
• Learn how to shut off water valves for potential pipe bursts.
• Check on the elderly.
• Bring pets inside.
• Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing and a hat.
• Mittens, snug at the wrist, are better than gloves.
• Cover your mouth to protect your lungs from extreme cold.
• Try to stay dry and out of the wind.

As of around 1:15 p.m. Friday, the National Weather Service predicted the following detailed forecast for metro Atlanta:

This Afternoon: Sunny, with a high near 46. Northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Tonight: Clear, with a low around 28. Northwest wind 5-10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 49. Northwest wind 5-10 mph.

Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 31. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 53. West wind 5-10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 29.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 45.

Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 26.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 46.

Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 28.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 53.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 59.