Tornadoes, 60 MPH Winds A Threat In GA Storms: See Latest Forecast

Storms are expected to hit parts of Georgia starting Friday night, bringing a risk for hail, damaging winds and a possible tornado through Saturday.

This means hail up to an inch and 40 to 60 mph damaging winds are possible in west Georgia, the National Weather Service said they cannot rule out a brief, isolated tornado.

Including metro Atlanta, a cold front will blow through north and central Georgia Friday night into early Saturday morning. The front could be accompanied by showers and isolated thunderstorms, although the severe weather risk in these regions are low.

The storms, possibly becoming strong, could carry into Sunday in the metro and surrounding areas, the NWS said in its hazardous weather outlook.

This is all before Monday, when north Georgia is slated to freeze. The NWS said an "area-wide hard freeze" is becoming more likely early Tuesday morning, when temperatures could drop at or below 28 degrees in the north and central areas.

"Please make plans for any sensitive vegetation and complete any winterization of outdoor exposed plumbing," the NWS said.

RELATED: 20-Degree Temps To Freeze GA: Latest Forecast

Weather officials predicted Georgia will see its first freeze, or frost, next week.

The blast of cold air is expected to chill the East Coast, potentially bringing snow to the Midwest, AccuWeather reported Thursday. But, in the eastern region, wintry temperatures may very well be rampant even though it's technically still fall.

"Temperatures will feel more like mid-December or even Christmastime in many places by next week," AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said. “This will be the first taste of wintry weather for millions from this weekend to early next week, with a dramatic temperature drop and blustery winds. The surge of chilly air will also briefly reach parts of the Southeast."

Weather officials encourage residents to take heed to any possible frost or freeze warnings.

Here is the National Weather Service's Friday morning forecast for metro Atlanta:

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. Southwest wind 5-10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 3 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. South wind around 5 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 74. West wind around 5 mph.

Saturday Night: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.

Sunday: A slight chance of showers before 10 a.m., then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., then a slight chance of showers after 4 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 68. West wind 5-15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 34.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 43.

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

Veterans Day: Sunny, with a high near 50.

Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 35.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 63.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 44.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 66.