2+ Inches Of Snow Possible In Atlanta As Extreme Cold Looms

ATLANTA — The Atlanta area is expected to see dangerous wind chills below zero degrees overnight through Monday morning, followed by 2 or more inches of possible snow later in the week, according to the National Weather Service.

An extreme cold warning was issued for 1 a.m. to noon Monday for Fannin, Gilmer, Union, Towns, Pickens, Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Bartow, Cherokee, Forsyth, Hall, Polk, Paulding, Cobb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Haralson, Carroll, Douglas and DeKalb counties. Snow flurries were expected Sunday afternoon and evening north and west of Atlanta.

The warning cautioned of “dangerously cold wind chills as low as 4 below” that could cause ruptured pipes. People were advised to wrap or drain pipes, or allow them to drip slowly.

Anyone going outdoors was cautioned to wear a hat, face mask and gloves, while pets should stay indoors as much as possible, according to the weather service.

While high temperatures Monday were forecast to reach the 40s in some places, other areas along and north of Interstate 20 may not get above freezing, according to the service.

Hazardous cold was expected to persist, with temperatures decreasing to lows in the teens along and north of the Interstate 85 corridor overnight Monday into Tuesday.

“Many locations in north and central Georgia, particularly to the north of I-85, could experience well over 48 consecutive hours of below freezing temperatures starting within the short term period early Monday,” the weather service said Sunday in its long-term area forecast discussion.

There was a 40 percent chance Atlanta could get 2 or more inches of snow, although forecasts remained variable Sunday, according to the service. A winter storm watch had been issued from 10 a.m. Tuesday to 7 a.m. Wednesday from Carroll to Hall counties, including the Atlanta area.

“Considering the multiple hours near or below freezing in advance of this system, it is likely that any wintry precipitation that falls will stick to roads instantly,” the forecast discussion said. “Thus, it will not take much accumulation to create hazardous travel conditions.”

Temperatures overnight Wednesday into Thursday and Thursday into Friday were expected to remain cold, with lows in the teens and 20s, followed by daytime warming into the 40s Friday and Saturday.