Arctic Airmass Prompts Freezing Temps, Snow And Sleet In GA

GEORGIA — An arctic airmass sent temperatures plummeting below freezing, forcing several schools to close Tuesday in metro Atlanta and bringing a snow-sleet mixture to the north Georgia mountains Monday.

A winter weather advisory was in effect until noon Tuesday for Forsyth, Paulding, Cobb, Fulton, Douglas and Carroll counties. A wind chill advisory was issued for 5 p.m. Tuesday until 10 a.m. Wednesday for these same counties.

Additionally, the wind child advisory was issued for Hall, Gwinnett, Barrow, Clarke, Oconee, DeKalb and other counties stretching through Columbus for the same duration.

"The cold wind chills could result in hypothermia if precautions are not taken," the National Weather Service's Peachtree City office said in the wind chill advisory.

The weather service reported freezing rain could blend with normal rain occasionally with "a light glaze of ice" possible specifically on high surfaces. The weather service said wind chills as low as zero were possible in north central and northwest Georgia.

"Very slippery sidewalks, roads and bridges are possible. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute. The cold wind chills could result in hypothermia if precautions are not taken," the weather service said in its advisory.

Drivers were asked to slow down and use caution. The weather service said potential power outages could occur. Residents should wear appropriate clothing, a hat and gloves, the weather service said.

Atlanta had a high of 28 degrees and a low of 15 degrees Tuesday. Temperatures in the metro could slightly warm up throughout the week before returning to a low of 15 degrees Friday night.

Savannah was not under any alerts as of early Tuesday; however, low wind chill values were predicted for the city for late Friday night and early Saturday, and again, late Saturday night into early Sunday.

During an update around 8:45 p.m. Monday, the weather service said the wintry weather was due to a "bitter cold" linked to an Arctic airmass that entered north and central Georgia Tuesday.

Schools in Cobb County, the City of Marietta, DeKalb County, the City of Atlanta, Bartow County, Cherokee County and Douglas County all closed Tuesday.

Forsyth and Paulding counties were among others that enforced a virtual learning day Tuesday.

Reinhardt University in Waleska closed its campus. Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Georgia State University, Morehouse School of Medicine and Spelman College all had delayed openings Tuesday.

The weather service predicted the dangerous conditions could last through Wednesday morning and forecast possible wind chills of -5 to 10 degrees.

Moderate temperatures were expected Thursday and Friday with "dangerously cold conditions" set to return next weekend, the weather service said.

At 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, the weather service predicted the following forecast:

This Afternoon: Mostly sunny, with a steady temperature around 30. Northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Tonight: Clear, with a low around 15. Northwest wind 15-20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 36. Northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 23. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 48. South wind 5-10 mph.

Thursday Night: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 43.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 17.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 31.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 17.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 40.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 26.

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 48.