Freeze Warning Issued As Frigid Temps Slam GA

A second freeze warning will go into effect for portions of Georgia a day after snow, sleet, hail and rain blasted through the state.

The National Weather Service issued two freeze warnings, one of which expired at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 22 degrees are forcing a second warning that is set to start at 11 p.m. and end at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

The warning affects several Georgia counties, including: Clarke, Bartow, Barrow, Fayette, DeKalb, Fulton, Cobb, Cherokee, Gwinnett, Paulding, Clarke, Henry and Clayton counties.

While no storms are in the forecast, seesaw temperatures could reach the lower 80s by the weekend.

The NWS provided these extreme cold safety tips:

• Minimize travel.
• Stay indoors during the worst part of the extreme cold.
• Keep a winter survival kit in your vehicle if you must travel.
• Check tire pressure, antifreeze levels, heater/defroster, etc.
• Learn how to shut off water valves for potential pipe bursts.
• Check on the elderly.
• Bring pets inside.
• Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing and a hat.
• Mittens, snug at the wrist, are better than gloves.
• Cover your mouth to protect your lungs from extreme cold.
• Try to stay dry and out of the wind.

Weather, Government Shutdown Affect Atlanta Airport

Airports nationwide are rebounding from a frigid weather system that covered much of the U.S. on Monday, CNN reported.

Hartsfield-Jackson was faced with tornado watches and falling wintry weather as security lines backed up at the Atlanta airport.

As of late morning Tuesday, FlightAware reported more than 12,000 delays at national airports. Cancellations neared 2,000.

In Georgia, there were 365 flight delays and 207 cancellations.

Additionally, air travelers are faced with long delays in security lines at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport due to a partial federal shutdown impacting Transportation Security Administration workers.

The shutdown is due to a stalemate over funding for the Department of Homeland Security, specifically for the Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Hartsfield-Jackson alerted domestic travelers were causing extensive wait times in the international security line, which had a wait time of 90 minutes Tuesday morning.

With one of the three domestic security checkpoints closed, wait times were around an hour in two of the remaining three lines - the north and main checkpoints.

The air travel disruptions stretch beyond weather at Hartsfield, the world's busiest airport.

According to the White House on Tuesday, more than 100,000 workers continue to go without pay. Previously, the White House stated this is the third time in six months that TSA workers have not received paychecks.

Chief executives from major airlines American Airlines, United ​Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Alaska Air and FedEx on Sunday wrote an open letter to Congress requesting their federal workers be paid.

"TSA officers just received $0 paychecks. That is simply unacceptable. It’s difficult, if not impossible, to put food on the table, put gas in the car and pay rent when you are not getting paid," the letter stated.

The group, collectively known as Airlines for America, noted the "high stakes" due to spring break, the FIFA World Cup 2026 (which will make an appearance in Atlanta) and observances for America's 250th birthday.

More than 170 million air travelers are expected in the spring, but wait times are currently up to 4 hours in the U.S., the letter stated.

"It’s past time for the government to make sure that TSA officers, U.S. Customs clearance officers at airports and air traffic controllers are paid for the job they do. In these times when it’s hard to reach consensus on just about anything, it is significant that the vast majority of Americans want Congress to pay federal aviation workers, keep our National Airspace System secure and ensure travelers and packages can get to their destinations safely," the letter stated.