Metro Atlanta braces for more frigid temps before midweek warmup
It’s a far cry from the sunshine, flowers and springlike warmth Atlanta residents have enjoyed the past two weekends.
Nearly all Georgians woke up Tuesday morning under a freeze warning.
The National Weather Service advisory comes as temperatures remain chillier than normal. Tuesday will see highs only in the 40s across North Georgia and low 50s across Middle Georgia. Another widespread freeze is expected overnight into Wednesday morning.
Tuesday’s freeze warning expired at 10 a.m. for most of the state and then reinstates from 11 p.m. to 10 a.m. Wednesday. Temps could go as low as 22 degrees, according to the Weather Service.
A southeast corner of the state just east of Valdosta and south of Hinesville will be under a freeze watch overnight through Wednesday morning.
The temperature dip endangers any flowers and shrubs that may have recently been planted by overeager gardeners and comes after a stormy start to the work week.
Monday brought thunderstorms, tornado watches and icy rain to parts of the metro as strong winds toppled trees and power lines in some areas. Farther north, some residents reported a light dusting of snow in their neighborhoods as frigid air moved in after lunch.
The Weather Service said it does not expect all those elements again Tuesday, but winds will be on the breezy side. Gusts could reach 20-25 mph through the afternoon.
At Atlanta’s airport, security line wait times — already long because of Transportation Security Administration staffing issues caused by the government shutdown — reached nearly two hours Tuesday morning.
More than 150 Atlanta flights were already canceled, according to FlightAware.com. Delta Air Lines canceled more than 225 flights for Tuesday across its network by early morning, as the airline recovers from a storm that hit its Atlanta hub the previous day.
Although temps will plunge again Tuesday evening, Wednesday kicks off an extended warmup, the Weather Service said. Highs will get into the 50s, still about 10-15 degrees below normal for this time.
By Thursday, highs will be back to the mid-60s and low 70s, and the warming trend will continue into the weekend.
Atlanta saw a nearly 30-degree temperature swing in just a little over 12 hours, meteorologist Laura Belanger of the National Weather Service in Peachtree City said Monday. It’s not exactly common in Georgia, she said, but it’s not unheard of either — especially given the size of this weather system.
“There was some intensity behind it. It packed a little bit of a punch,” Belanger said. “This is March in Georgia.”
Meteorologists fielded reports of sleet and graupel, the tiny ice pellets drivers may have seen bouncing off their windshields just after lunch Monday.
No widespread damage was reported during the early morning storms. Parts of far North Georgia saw a light dusting of snow Monday evening, but Belanger said she didn’t expect much in the way of accumulation considering how warm it’s been.
The freeze means flowers and shrubs could be in trouble when temperatures drop. It could also pose problems for the state’s blueberry farmers, Belanger said.
Those looking to protect their flowers through Wednesday morning are encouraged to cover their plants with towels and blankets. Potted plants can be moved to the garage or at least up against the house, where it’s slightly warmer.
As for flowering trees, like cherry blossoms and redbuds, the overnight freeze could endanger those springtime buds, too.
“Cover what you can, bring in what you can,” Belanger said. “Unfortunately, for the rest of us we’re getting that reminder that you don’t plant stuff in February and March in Georgia.”
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