Bundle up and get prepared this week.
Rain is expected into Monday, and “much colder conditions are expected Tuesday through Thursday,” the National Weather Service warns.
Overnight and in the early mornings this week, the Atlanta area will see temperatures in the teens. The North Georgia mountains could see single digits.
The punishing cold here comes as much of the country was to experience what the Weather Service described as a “disruptive winter storm.” For example, parts of Kansas and Indiana were warned to brace for the potential of “the heaviest snowfall in at least a decade.” In the Central Plains, motorists were cautioned that, “Whiteout conditions will make driving dangerous to impossible and raise the risk of becoming stranded.”
Overnight showers in metro Atlanta were forecast to dissipate around noon Monday, after which a wintry mix is possible in some locations.
“A bit of light, wraparound sprinkles or a few snow flurries are possible across far North Georgia through Monday afternoon,” the NWS said.
Highs will linger in the 40s until Tuesday, then drop into the 30s in the metro area. Even colder air is coming next.
Arctic cold air will move south from Canada, reaching Georgia by about Friday, Channel 2 meteorologist Brad Nitz said.
“While the exact magnitude of the cold is still a bit uncertain at this juncture, highs are likely to remain in the 30s and 40s through the week, with lows well into the low- to mid-20s, with areas of teens likely by Thursday into Friday morning,” the Weather Service said. “While these conditions certainly won’t threaten any records, it will still be the coldest temperatures in about a year.”
The agency said the chance for snow in metro Atlanta remains uncertain.
Trending social media posts that were circulating recently forecast the blast of arctic air would bring significant snowfall with it. But the NWS urged caution when trying to predict weather patterns this far out — especially in a state that rarely has snowy winters, beyond the occasional flurry.
“Even larger uncertainty remains regarding any potential for wintry precipitation late next week,” the Weather Service said.
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