What To Know Ahead Of The Winter Weather Expected In Woodstock

WOODSTOCK, GA — With colder temperatures in the forecast for this weekend, residents in Woodstock and surrounding area may want to keep the hot cocoa and thick blankets on standby.

In a message posted to Facebook, Cherokee County officials said they are closely monitoring the weather and preparing accordingly.

"Cherokee County is preparing for possible winter weather this weekend. Our Emergency Management Agency is in regular contact with the National Weather Service, and all Emergency Operations Center teams are on standby to report to the EOC should the event warrant the Center to activate," the county posted. "Public Works has prepared salt spreaders, plows, material and other winter equipment for inclement weather. Public Works has crews on standby and plan to work to cover both day and night operations. Cherokee County officials are closely following the timing of weather system to be prepared."

"This is a great time to check your Ready Kit in your home and vehicle. Make sure you have the necessary supplies — including food, water, firewood, flashlights, extra batteries, and portable device chargers — in case you are unable to travel or lose power," the county continued. "And don’t forget to charge your phones!"

To stay in the know, residents can sign up for CodeRed alerts by visiting www.cherokeega-ema.org and clicking on the CodeRed button.

In the meantime, the Georgia Department of Transportation is sharing three things that Woodstock residents should know to be better prepared before this weekend's winter storm hits the northern half of the state:

1. What's happening? A winter storm system is moving into north Georgia and is anticipated to begin Saturday evening and last through late Sunday night. Effects could range from rain, freezing rain, or snow, but based on forecasts from the National Weather Service the department is anticipating a substantial icing event east of I-75 and north of I-20.

2. What should you do? Begin preparing now to stay home if you can. Be sure to have essential groceries on hand and gas in your vehicle, but plan to avoid all non-essential travel in affected areas during the storm.

3. What is GDOT doing? Georgia DOT said its constantly evolving to how it responds to winter weather events and the treatment plans it utilizes.

"Each storm is unique and our treatment and response has to be specifically tailored to that weather system," the agency said. "The department has been monitoring this weather system and coordinating with our partners at the National Weather Service and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency to determine how we will use our plan to address this system. Our plan includes brine routes run all day Friday, and plow teams activating Saturday through the end of the storm."