Atlantans are preparing for some serious winter weather this weekend, with Winter Storm Fern hitting Georgia beginning tomorrow. Local weather models are getting more confident that will will see ice and dangerous winter weather conditions this weekend. The National Weather Service has even issued an Ice Storm Warning, which is the highest level of ice warning the issue) to Northeast Georgia, including some of the Metro ATL area. Keep scrolling for more details.
What’s going on?
Georgia is under a State of Emergency as we brace for dangerous winter weather this weekend.
The National Weather Service just issued an Ice Storm Warning for many Georgia counties in north central and northeast Georgia. The Ice Storm Warning is in effect from 1 p.m. Saturday through 10 a.m. Monday.
Which counties are under the Ice Storm Warning?
According to CBS News, the National Weather Service has issued the Ice Storm Warning for the following counties:
- Banks
- Barrow
- Bartow
- Cherokee
- Clarke
- Clayton
- Cobb
- Dawson
- DeKalb
- Douglas
- Forsyth
- Greene
- Gwinnett
- Hall
- Henry
- Jackson
- Lumpkin
- Madison
- Morgan
- Newton
- North Fulton
- Oconee
- Oglethorpe
- Paulding
- Pickens
- Polk
- Rockdale
- South Fulton
- Taliaferro
- Walton
- Warren
- White
- Wilkes
How much ice will we get?
It’s hard to know for certain exactly how much ice will accumulate in the affected areas. Local forecasts expect total ice accumulations ranging from 0.25 inches to 1 inch. Paired with strong wings of up to 30mph, there is a high risk of falling trees and damage to power lines this weekend.
How do we stay safe?
To stay safe this weekend, try to stay inside a safe, warm location. If you need to head to an Atlanta Warming Center, the city releases press releases with the most up-to-date information about warming centers, here.
See our full winter weather readiness checklist here.Stay safe and warm, Atlanta!