Snow Possible With Weekend Winter Storm In GA, Forecasters Say

A third winter storm could drop snow into Georgia, which has had back-to-back weekends of wintry precipitation this month.

With Georgia in recovery mode from last weekend's system that brought ice to the northern portion of the state, the National Weather Service says a third storm may be on the horizon in the Southeast.

"Well, it's time to say it. There is a chance that another winter storm could impact parts of the Southeast U.S. this weekend. This is in addition to the cold weather that will linger across the region this week," the NWS' Charleston, South Carolina office said.

The Charleston office covers coastal Georgia, which consists of the Savannah area.

The low-pressure system, moving from the Northwest to the Southeast, could draw up moisture from the Gulf and the Atlantic Ocean and produce wintry precipitation, Sid King, meteorologist with the NWS' Peachtree City office, told Patch on Tuesday. He added this would come as cold temperatures travel through the region.

In Georgia, this would mean snowfall; but, King said there are two uncertainties to note: the amount and location of the snowy weather.

Snowfall could leave its footprint east of Atlanta near Athens, or it could descend an inch across metro Atlanta. As of Tuesday afternoon, King said the weather models were not agreeing, driving curiosity.

The snow would quickly stick and cause hazardous travel conditions, King said. The likely arrival of the storm is Saturday morning, though it could hit earlier or later than anticipated "if things come together," he said.

AccuWeather reported a snowstorm could set its sights on the East Coast. The private weather company forecasts snow, strong winds and rain for Georgia this weekend.

"As early as Friday, precipitation could begin along the Gulf Coast. Rain is most likely south of Interstate 10 from Louisiana to Florida. Depending on exactly when the storm strengthens, snow could mix with rain from Interstate 10 on northward across in parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia," AccuWeather reported.

Though the storm has the possibility of being more intense than the one from this past weekend, forecasters say it could have less coverage area.

AccuWeather noted there are two likely scenarios with the impending snowstorm.

The first concept is that the storm will transition into a weakened system that moves along the Gulf Coast and over the Atlantic Ocean before heading northward. If this happens, New England and the Carolinas could be covered in snow.

If it turns northward, snow could trek across the Eastern Seaboard. A nor'easter would mean heavy snow for the mid-Atlantic.

It depends on how the system evolves; but Georgia can be sure that more temperatures in the teens to the low 30s will arrive come Saturday, King said.

Metro Atlanta could experience temperatures in the 20s as highs struggle to make their way above freezing. The northern and central regions would be below freezing for up to two days, he said.

He warned areas that would escape the snow should still wrap pipes, keep pets arm, drip faucets and take other safety precautions against the cold.

As models change, King urged people to check with official sources for weather information and ensure information received is current.

Here is the National Weather Service's Tuesday afternoon detailed forecast for metro Atlanta:

This Afternoon: Sunny, with a high near 40. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. West wind around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45. Northwest wind 5-10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 26. Northwest wind around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 44. Northwest wind around 5 mph.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 28.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 44.

Friday Night: A slight chance of rain showers before 10 p.m., then a slight chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Saturday: Partly sunny and cold, with a high near 25.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 14.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 33.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 22.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 42.