GA To Shiver As Temperatures Low As The 20s Are Forecast For Weekend

ATLANTA, GA — Extreme cold temperatures are on deck for this weekend in much of North Georgia, and forecasters say Mercury readings could reach as low as the teens in some areas.

"We're going to see temperatures drop down to some of the coldest we've seen so far this year," National Weather Service meteorologist Dylan Lusk told Patch. "This is the time of year when we can get these stronger cold fronts. But this weekend will be 10 degrees below what our average temperature is for this time of the year."

A strong low-pressure system will develop off the Atlantic coast that will push freezing Arctic air as far south as Florida, AccuWeather forecasters said.

"That's the same system that's going to deliver snow to parts of the northeast, depending on where you are," Lusk said.

Friday night will be the coldest for most people with temperatures hovering around 20 degrees for much of Metro Atlanta northward. With the addition of blustery winds, Saturday morning will bring on what Lusk calls "feels like" temperatures.

"Temperatures with the winds are going to feel like they're down into the teens and up in the mountains into the single digits," he said.

Saturday will remain in the twenties through the night in Georgia, while much of the Southeast, from Mississippi all the way to southern parts of Florida, AccuWeather predicts and could dip well below freezing.

By Sunday, however, expect sunny skies with temperatures rebounding back to the 50s, National Weather Service forecasters say.

Here's the latest look ahead to the weekend forecast for the Atlanta region from the National Weather Service:

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 49. Light north wind becoming northwest 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 20. Northwest wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 36. Northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 24.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 51.

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

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 57.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.

Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 56.

Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42.

Check back at Patch.com for updates.