ATLANTA — Severe Weather Team 2 is monitoring the potential for winter weather in parts of north Georgia this weekend. A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for areas in northeast Georgia.
Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Karen Minton said the watch goes into effect late Saturday night through Sunday night.
"You can see Lumpkin, Union, Towns... Clay County, up in North Carolina, as well as Rabun, White and also Habersham counties, you all are included in this watch," Minton said.
Minton says there’s potential for sleet, freezing rain and even some areas of accumulating snow in those areas.
Metro Atlanta could see heavy rain and wind that could cause some real problems.
Severe Weather Team 2 is monitoring new data as it becomes available and will be fine-tuning the forecast as the system evolves. WATCH Channel 2 Action News throughout the day
WINTER STORM WATCH: Clay County NC, Union, Towns, Lumpkin, White, Habersham & Rabun counties in GA. Starts 1AM Sunday to 1AM Monday. 1"-2" of snow with 5"+ in the highest ridges. Ice accumulations of 1/10th" possible pic.twitter.com/1x0ipoZL09
— Karen Minton (@KarenMintonWSB) December 7, 2018
TIMING
According to Severe Weather Team 2, the wintry mix may begin as early as Saturday morning in northeast Georgia.
“The best chance will be Saturday night into Sunday morning,” Severe Weather Team 2 Brad Nitz said. “During that time period, accumulating snowfall in far northeast Georgia may occur and the wintry mix could expand to include some of the far northeast metro area.”
Impacts from snow and/or wintry mix is expected to be mainly in the NE Georgia mountains this weekend. This image shows the probability of 2" or greater snowfall.
— Brad Nitz (@BradNitzWSB) December 6, 2018
Dark blue=<10% for metro Atlanta and most of our area.
Light blue=10-30% chance
Yellow=30-50% chance
Red=>50% chance pic.twitter.com/REjZvDz1E4
OTHER IMPACT
Throughout the weekend, the rest of the area -- including Atlanta -- will have cold rain and gusty wind.
“The rainfall totals will be around 2 to 3 inches this weekend, which could lead to some minor flooding,” Nitz said.
Heaviest rain will fall along and south of the I-20 corridor where 2-3"+ of RAIN is possible.
— Brian Monahan, WSB (@BMonahanWSB) December 7, 2018
If you're looking for the potential for snow/winter mix in the metro, keep an eye on Sunday night/Monday as we get wrap around moisture.
For now, winter focus is NE of Atlanta.
Cox Media Group
