Weekend Snow For North Georgia Can't Be Ruled Out: National Weather Service

GEORGIA — Will it snow this weekend in North Georgia?

The National Weather Service said Wednesday morning that it was still waiting to see whether to call for snow in the Atlanta area weather forecast.

“Right now what I can tell you is that there is still a lot of uncertainty,” National Weather Service meteorologist Dylan Lusk told Patch. “One or two degrees will make the difference between whether it’s going to be snow or whether it’s going to be ice.”

Forecasters at the National Weather Service station in Peachtree City report seeing consistent signals in recent meteorological models that point to the chance for wintry weather late Saturday evening through Sunday.

After pummeling the Midwest and Northeast with snow, a wedge, or cold-weather dam, is sending frigid temperatures down the eastern Appalachian mountains to Georgia along a line from I-85 in Atlanta northward.

That might mean snow for metro Atlanta and all Georgia areas to the north. It could mean freezing rain. Or it could only mean chilly precipitation that doesn’t present the type of wintry mix that causes concerns of white weather. The chances of snow are greater the further northeast you go.

“It’s too soon to tell,” Lusk said Wednesday.

It’s been nearly four years since the last measurable snow in Atlanta, the National Weather Service is reporting. Although there have been reports in past weeks of a dusting of snow in the North Georgia Mountains and other northern Metro Atlanta suburbs, that’s 1,454 days without significant, area-wide snowfall.

That counts as the second-longest snowless streak on record behind a snow drought between February 1948 and February 1952, which was just 23 days longer.

“In the meantime, keep potential impacts in mind and be prepared, just in case,” NWS meteorologists warn. “Keep checking the forecast over the coming days, as we are always updating it with the latest information.

Related:

• How To Prepare For A Power Outage
• Cold Weather Tips: Keep Your Car Safe
• Winter Weather Safety Tips Before Shoveling Snow

The Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety provided these steps to prepare for snow and what to do following significant winter weather:

Before a winter storm

• Be weather aware so you have plenty of time to prepare ahead of perilous conditions.
• Find a reliable source to monitor winter weather forecasts, such as your local National Weather Service office and the Weather Prediction Center on Facebook or Twitter.
• Tune in to local news often when winter weather is forecast.
• Enable wireless emergency alerts on your cell phone.
• Purchase a weather alert radio that broadcasts emergency alerts from the National Weather Service, preferably with a hand crank.
• Ensure you have fuel for generators in case power goes out.

Help prevent pipes from freezing

To make sure your plumbing is protected when temperatures plummet:

• Always keep your thermostat set to at least 55°F (12.8°C).
• Open cabinet doors where piping is present, especially when pipes are next to an outside wall.
• Let all faucets drip during extreme cold weather.

Following a winter weather event

• Check for damage in and around your home
• Watch for signs of snow load damage such as creaking sounds, a sagging roof, cracks in the ceiling or walls, water stains and doors or windows that no longer open and close correctly.
• If water isn’t flowing, you may have frozen pipes. If you suspect frozen pipes, shut off the water supply and call a plumber to make repairs.

If you find significant damage to your home:

• Safety first. Get to a safe place if your home is unsafe, and stay away from any damaged areas.
• Document losses. If it is safe to be at your home, use your phone to take pictures and document any damaged or destroyed property. Only enter your home to collect or salvage items if you are certain the structure is safe.
• Keep all receipts and documentation. Consider creating an electronic file for this information in a cloud storage account so you can access the information from anywhere.
• Assess downed trees or large limbs.
• If a tree or large branch is on your driveway or property, call a tree care professional. If it’s on a road or sidewalk call your municipal public works department.