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After nearly a week of forewarning, the time is nigh. An ice storm bearing down on North Georgia that could bring widespread power outages and make for dangerous travel is getting close to Atlanta.
Showers became widespread in metro Atlanta around 9 p.m. Light frozen rain started in parts of far North Georgia on Saturday morning.
Freezing rain is expected to pick up in the metro around 11 p.m. and then become widespread overnight as temperatures crash into the low 30s and high 20s. All that precipitation will eventually freeze around midnight, Channel 2 Action News chief meteorologist Brad Nitz said.
Ice will continue accumulating Sunday until around noon. Any remaining moisture will refreeze and cause hazardous conditions Monday morning because of cold air pushing into the state from the northwest.
An ice storm warning is in effect for all of North Georgia, and in metro Atlanta it started at 1 p.m.
The warning zone stretches southward to Polk County, southeast through Fulton and Henry counties and east to Richmond County along the South Carolina border, according to the NWS. Those locations are expected to get at least a quarter-inch of ice, but some localized areas may get up to an inch, the agency warns.
The warning went into effect earlier Saturday for a cluster of far northwest counties along the Alabama and Tennessee borders from Dade to Whitfield counties and down to Chattooga County, where light precipitation began earlier.
It’s the first time an ice storm warning has been issued in Georgia in more than a decade, and a state of emergency covering all counties is in place through Thursday.
By Sunday, locations in the warning area “may experience widespread power outages and treacherous travel conditions,” the NWS warns, especially around I-85 and U.S. 23.
Counties bordering the warning zone to the south are under a winter weather advisory, upgraded from a winter storm watch. Those locations could see a light glazing of ice that could make for hazardous travel.
All weather alerts expire Monday morning.
A brief warmup is possible Sunday afternoon in parts of metro Atlanta. A line of thunderstorms will move into southwest Georgia and parts of Middle Georgia between 2 and 8 p.m. Warm air is bringing that rain, which could lead to thunderstorms in Middle Georgia and as far north as the metro.
There is still uncertainty about how far into Middle Georgia and metro Atlanta thunderstorms will reach, especially if the area does not get warm enough.
The last time North Georgia was hit with an ice storm was in February 2014, two weeks after that January’s infamous “Snowmageddon,” which crippled the Southeast and brought metro Atlanta to a screeching halt.
In the lead-up to this year’s storm, key forecast details about the timing and the amount of precipitation have changed, as expected. But the core message has been consistent: Residents in the warning and watch zones should hunker down from Saturday through Monday and be ready for extended power outages.
Projected wind gusts up to 30 mph will make for a menacing threat to trees and power lines already under strenuous weight from ice.
For perspective, a half-inch of ice on a 30-foot tree could add about 3,500 pounds of weight to it, Channel 2 meteorologist Ashley Kramlich explained. That is “equivalent to just over 400 gallons of milk,” she added, “and then you factor in the winds, and it doesn’t take much for these trees to come down.”
Dangerously cold nighttime temperatures from Monday through possibly Thursday will pose an added risk for people without power and other vulnerable populations, the Weather Service said. Tuesday poses a particular concern with “feels like” temps dropping to the single digits in North and Middle Georgia.
Georgia’s first ice storm since 2014
In 2014, the second storm in February brought heavy snow and record-level ice to the north and central parts of the state, according to the Weather Service. Closer to the metro area, 2-4 inches of snow fell across a large area north of I-20, and ice accumulations ranged from a quarter to three-quarters of an inch.
“If we remember back then, we did see significant impacts, and they were prolonged,” state meteorologist Will Lanxton said during a news conference Friday afternoon. “Some areas were tough to travel with power outages for at least a few days.”
No snow is expected this time, but the ice, even small amounts, will make for dangerous roads, the NWS warns.
“If I could choose between having a foot of snow on the ground or a quarter or half-an-inch of ice, I’m going to take the snow every single time,” Monahan said. “That would have a much less disruptive impact on power and trees coming down.”
And those conditions may last through Tuesday, especially in the warning zone, as overnight temperatures plunge into the teens and 20s, refreezing anything that hasn’t evaporated.
“Consider how your family would stay safe if you lost power or the ability to travel for several days,” the agency said. “Ensure your family has multiple days of food and medication on hand.”
Credit: Natrice Miller
Credit: Natrice Miller
The 2014 storms, especially that January’s Snowmageddon, had a lasting impact on Peach State leaders, who have endeavored not to be caught off guard again. This time, Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency Thursday, well ahead of the storm, for all counties. He also authorized calling up 500 members of the National Guard, who will help with cleanup efforts as needed.
Preparations underway
Starting Saturday, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources will open warming centers at several state parks for public use during the storm. Parking fees will be waived at those locations, which include several parks across North Georgia — such as Vogel State Park in Blairsville, Amicalola Falls State Park near Dahlonega and Richard B. Russell State Park in Elberton. Pets are welcome but must be leashed or crated and accompanied by owners at all times, the agency said.
Georgia Power, the state’s largest electric utility, said Friday afternoon it has more than 10,000 personnel ready to respond to any outages.
Other power providers have similar plans to monitor the storm’s track and dispatch as needed. Still, the providers urge customers to prepare for extended outages if the storm’s impact hampers efforts to restore power.
On Friday afternoon, Georgia Department of Transportation crews began treating roads north of I-20 and then I-75 South to Macon, spokesperson Natalie Dale said. The department plans to reapply brine continuously to counteract rain washing it away.
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN/AJC
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN/AJC
“Troopers are prepared to respond and assist motorists, but do us all a favor and stay off the roads,” Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Director Josh Lamb said Friday.
GEMA activated its state operations center at a Level 1 starting at 7 a.m. Saturday, and it will remain in operation until the storm passes. A Level 1 activation is the highest level, which typically occurs during significant emergencies.
Local governments have also been preparing.
Credit: Ben Hendren
Credit: Ben Hendren
Metro Atlanta organizations had already started announcing closures and cancellations by Thursday afternoon. Several schools and colleges announced closures, too, and by Friday, MARTA announced it would operate on an inclement weather plan Saturday through Sunday.
Bus routes will be limited to those that serve major medical facilities and emergency rooms, and rail service will be reduced to 20-minute headways.
Officials have continuously urged people to delay travel Saturday and Sunday. If unavoidable, use caution and pack an emergency kit in case you become stranded on icy roads. A kit should include booster cables, a flashlight, a shovel, blankets, water and anything else that would help you weather the storm in a vehicle.
Nationwide impacts, fire danger in SW Georgia
This same storm is affecting a large swath of the country from New Mexico to Maine, according to the NWS’ Weather Prediction Center.
Already, about more than 100,000 power outages have been reported across the country as of 5 p.m. Saturday. About 51,000 of them are in Texas, where ice and sleet fell in the state’s northern portion overnight, according to poweroutage.us. Another 50,000 outages were reported in Louisiana.
Many of the nation’s major airports have also been impacted, including those in Atlanta; Dallas, Texas; Memphis, Tennessee; and Charlotte, North Carolina.
While northern Georgia is battling ice, GEMA is also bracing for potential Sunday wildfires sparked by thunderstorms in southwest Georgia, Georgia Forestry Commission Director Johnny Sabo said Saturday. Conditions there are dry and ripe for wildfires.
Storms are expected to develop over central Georgia as more warm Gulf Coast air pushes north and clashes with the Arctic cold, the NWS said. Some of those storms could turn severe, but that depends on how far north the warm air makes it. If that happens, the biggest concern would be for damaging wind gusts and a brief tornado.
— Staff writer Drew Kann contributed to this report. This is a developing story. Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.
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