Atlanta, Georgia – A potentially crippling ice storm is setting its sights on north and northeast Georgia, with hazardous conditions expected to develop late Friday night and persist into Monday morning, raising concerns for widespread power outages and dangerous travel.
According to the National Weather Service in Peachtree City, a Winter Storm Watch remains in effect for much of north central, northeast, and northwest Georgia. Confidence is increasing in a prolonged period of freezing rain, sleet, and light snow, with ice accumulations ranging from one-quarter to three-quarters of an inch. Even small snow or sleet totals could worsen conditions by creating a base layer beneath the ice.
Counties including Cherokee, Forsyth, Hall, Bartow, Floyd, Whitfield, Gordon, Lumpkin, Dawson, Gilmer, Union, Towns, Jackson, Madison, Barrow, Clarke, Oconee, and Wilkes are all included. Communities such as Gainesville, Rome, Dalton, Cartersville, Woodstock, Cumming, Athens, and Dahlonega could see tree limbs and power lines come down under the weight of ice, leading to prolonged outages.
Travel may become nearly impossible at times, especially on bridges and elevated roadways across I-75, I-85, and GA 400. Officials urge residents to complete preparations early, avoid non-essential travel, and charge devices ahead of time. The storm’s impacts could extend into the Monday morning commute, and watches may be upgraded as confidence in ice totals continues to increase.
