ATLANTA WINTER STORM: Minute-by-minute updates

ATLANTA — A State of Emergency is in effect across 78 Georgia counties right now as a winter storm moves in.

THE LATEST: Icy conditions in metro as snow falls in parts of Georgia

[DOWNLOAD: Free Severe Weather Team 2 App]

Sleet and snow began falling across parts of north Georgia Friday afternoon.

QUICK FACTS: 

• Winter storm warning in effect from 4 p.m. Friday to 1 p.m. Saturday
• Snow is expected to fall in the metro from Friday night into Saturday morning
• Up to 4 inches of snow is possible in some areas 
• Travel could be "difficult to impossible" in spots late Friday night into Saturday

Follow our minute-by-minute coverage below to stay updated as the storm moves through:

2:50 a.m. 

Cold air is rushing in to the metro area, with temperatures in the 20s.

Channel 2's Steve Gehlbach saw snow plows out on the main streets in Cherokee County.

Georgia Power reports nearly 10,000 customers without power.

2:18 a.m.

Snow begins to taper off in the areas where it is falling.

2:00 a.m.

Meteorologist Brad Nitz says snow has moved into the heart of metro Atlanta. Temperatures are in the low 20s and light snow is falling in Atlanta.

1:45 a.m.

Snow flurries were seen in midtown Atlanta.

1:00 a.m. Ice will continue to accumulate overnight. Georgia Power says it is prepared for more outages.

12:45 a.m. Georgia Power says ice has knocked out power to more than 10,000 customers.

12:30 a.m. Four inches of snow measured in Dahlonega in Lumpkin County. This is the highest snow total so far, according to meteorologist Brad Nitz.

12:25 a.m. People caught on camera doing donuts on the roads in Canton were pulled over by police.

12:15 a.m. Most of Atlanta seeing freezing rain right now. Up in the north Georgia mountains, snow is continuing to accumulate.

12:00 a.m. Channel 2 Action News continues with a special edition of the Channel 2 Action News Nightbeat as snow and freezing rain continue to fall across north Georgia.

11:40 p.m. DeKalb EMA says some power lines are down in Dunwoody.

11:30 p.m. Getting report of trees icing in Atlanta. Georgia Power reporting nearly 5,000 customers without power.

11:20 p.m. Reports of trees down as snow and ice accumulation continue across metro Atlanta.

11:10 p.m. The National Weather Service is reporting significant freezing rain at its office in Peachtree City.

11:00 p.m. Georgia Power reporting isolated outages at this point affecting more than 1,000 customers.

10:55 p.m. Douglas County emergency operations says bridges, overpasses and steep roadways are quickly icing.  Douglas County DOT is applying salt/sand/stone mixtures on locations as reports come in to 911. Ice is also accumulating in trees, and branches are beginning to bend and break.

10:50 p.m. Road temperatures in and around Atlanta are below freezing right now causing treacherous roadways.

10:45 p.m. There are a few warming shelters open in DeKalb County. More will open tomorrow morning.

10:40 p.m. Cars sliding off roads in north Fulton County. Several crashes being reported because of icy roads.

10:30 p.m. Police are asking everyone to stay off Georgia 400. They reported to GDOT that ALL lanes northbound and southbound have ice on them. On the northbound side, there is a crash just before Holcomb Bridge Road that has closed all but one lane.

10:25 p.m. GDOT crews are working across the metro, especially in the south metro where ice is accumulating on the roadways.

10:20 p.m. Zoo Atlanta says it will be closed Saturday due to the weather.

10:11 p.m. Forecast is changing as the storm moves in. Northern suburbs will see up to 3 inches of snow with much more freezing rain and ice south of Interstate 20.

10:05 p.m. Meteorologist Brad Nitz says the type of precipitation you are getting right now will likely continue for the next three hours or so. This could lead to serious ice accumulation in the south metro.

10:02 p.m. Meteorologist Brad Nitz says snow will continue to accumulate overnight.

10:00 p.m. Ice is beginning to accumulate in the south metro. Chief Meteorologist Glenn Burns says it will make travel "nearly impossible" between LaGrange and Atlanta.

9:55 p.m. Icy roads are causing crashes across the northern metro. Please stay off the roads if possible.

9:50 p.m. Crews are out working to clear the roads as snow continues to fall in the northern metro.

9:35 p.m. Roads are covered in snow in some areas. Deputies in multiple counties say they are working weather related accidents.

9:30 p.m. The Atlanta streetcar has suspended its service due to ice.

9:25 p.m. Some places are already seeing more than an inch of snow accumulating.

9:15 p.m. Roads are treacherous in much of north Georgia as snow begins to stick. Please stay off if you do not need to be on them.

9:00 p.m. Temperatures have dropped into the 20s in many areas and snow is sticking to the ground.

8:50 p.m. Heavy snow now falling across much of metro Atlanta. Wrecks already being reported in some areas. Please stay off the roads if you do not need to drive.

8:35 p.m. The roads are clear and snow is falling across Cobb County. We will begin a special edition of the Channel 2 Action News Nightbeat at 9 p.m. as the storm moves through.

8:30 p.m. Heavy snow is falling in the north Georgia mountains. We're live on Facebook in Rabun County.

8:20 p.m. Snow beginning to accumulate in the northwest metro.

8:15 p.m. Sleet, freezing rain and snow picking up in the metro area. Share photos and videos with us on Twitter using #StormWatchon2.

8:00 p.m. Snow and sleet beginning to fall in Cobb and Paulding counties.

7:45 p.m. Fulton County says it is now sending out crews to pre-treat bridges and major roads in South Fulton County as they prepare for accumulating ice. "Fulton County continues to monitor weather conditions closely and we are adjusting our response plans to address the likeliness of ice within the next few hours," the public works director said.

7:41 p.m. Roads beginning to close in White and Union counties because of winter weather.

7:40 p.m. Channel 2 reporters spread out across north Georgia are starting to see the wintry mix and snow picking up.

7:15 p.m. Reports of snow beginning to fall in parts of north Georgia.

6:55 p.m. Snow is beginning to fall in north Forsyth County.

6:45 p.m. Crews across metro Atlanta heading out to pre-treat roads. Make sure you give them the space to do so.

6:30 p.m. Meteorologist Brad Nitz says the wind chills will be in the single digits across north Georgia in the morning.

6:25 p.m. Sleet is being reported across the metro area. Reports coming in from Forsyth County, Woodstock, Holly Springs and Cartersville. Snow beginning to fall in Adairsville.

6:10 p.m. Atlanta airport says more than 300 flights have been canceled by weather so far today. We could see more cancelations as snow moves into north Georgia tonight.

6:05 p.m. Chief Meteorologist Glenn Burns says if you are walking on ice tonight or tomorrow, try putting socks over your shoes to give you more traction.

6:00 p.m. Some areas south of the metro are seeing heavy sleet. Temperatures have now dropped below 32 degrees. The rain will soon begin to change over to sleet, freezing rain and eventually snow.

5:55 p.m. Atlanta airport essential employees are working 12-hours shifts to keep the airport running smoothly as winter weather moves in.

5:30 p.m. Meteorologist Brad Nitz says many areas will seeing a wintry mix of sleet and freezing rain over the next few hours. Snow will move down into the city down to Interstate 20 by around midnight.

5:20 p.m. Rain is still covering much of the metro area and is starting to change to sleet and freezing rain in the northern and western metro area. Parts of the north Georgia mountains are still seeing accumulating snow.

5:00 p.m.  GDOT says brine and salt trucks are out prepping the roads and will remain out through the night. Please be aware and be cautious of the trucks if you have to go out on the roads.

4:50 p.m. Emergency operations centers across north Georgia are fully staffed as they prepare for the winter weather. Officials are keeping an eye on hundreds of cameras as the monitor traffic and road conditions.

4:40 p.m. Traffic clearing out. Roads wet, but not icing yet as road temps stay above freezing.

4:25 p.m. Snow that is now in Alabama will move in this evening with a heavier system to follow. Temperatures are staying just above freezing in most of the metro.

4:15 p.m. Parts of the western metro drop below freezing as some rain begins to change over to sleet and snow.

4:05 p.m. Traffic clearing up across metro Atlanta. It appears people are heeding the mayor's warning to be off the roads by 4 p.m.

4:02 p.m. Stone Mountain announces that Snow Mountain will be closed Saturday because of the snow.

4:00 p.m. The winter storm warning is now in effect for all of north Georgia. Channel 2 Action News has a team of reporters spread across north Georgia covering the storm. Tune into WSB-TV now.

3:52 p.m Meteorologist Brad Nitz says some isolated areas in the north Georgia mountains could see up to 6 inches of snow with this storm.

3:50 p.m. More photos and videos coming in from viewers as snow falls in the north Georgia mountains. Temperatures are dropping near freezing across most of north Georgia.

3:30 p.m. Channel 2 Action News starts right now on WSB-TV. Severe Weather Team 2 is tracking the approaching winter storm. Snow is already falling in the north Georgia mountains and is beginning to stick.

3:10 p.m. Meteorologist Brian Monahan is live explaining how the storm is forming an what's to come.

3:00 p.m. Channel 2 Action News will start our afternoon coverage 30 minutes early at 3:30 p.m. on Channel 2 as snow and sleet move into the area.

2:40 p.m. Traffic is jammed on several interstates as sleet and rain continue to fall in the metro area. Follow @WSBTraffic on Twitter for updates on traffic conditions throughout the afternoon.

2:20 p.m. GEMA-Homeland Security holds a briefing as the state prepares for the incoming winter weather. Several agencies speaking about their preparations.

2:10 p.m. Traffic is building on Atlanta interstates as people head home from work and school. Be patient and cautious as you drive.

"Travel will be difficult to impossible starting late Friday night," meteorologist Brian Monahan said.

Watch Channel 2 Action News for the newest models as Severe Weather Team 2 continues to track the approaching winter storm.

2:00 p.m. Meteorologist Brad Nitz says the air temperatures and the road temperatures are dropping across the area and will soon be below freezing.

1:30 p.m. Sleet and snow are beginning to fall across north Georgia. Viewers are sending photos and videos on social media using #StormWatchon2

1:00 p.m. A Winter Storm Warning is now in effect for northwest Georgia. The warning for the rest of the metro will go into effect at 4 p.m.

12:00 p.m. A State of Emergency is now in effect for 78 north and central Georgia counties.

11:00 a.m. - Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed is urging drivers to be off the roads as soon as possible, ahead of an approaching winter storm.

“The goal of the state is to have everyone off metropolitan Atlanta roadways by 4 p.m.,” Reed said Friday.

Reed also asked drivers to stagger their commute times.

[THE LATEST: Atlanta mayor, governor: Be home by 4 p.m. Friday]

10:00 a.m. - Georgia Governor Nathan Deal tells Channel 2's Richard Elliot that he has encouraged all non-essential state employees to head home before 12 p.m. to avoid the storm.

Cox Media Group