Snow. Rain. Sleet. A large winter weather system is bringing some snow to the far northeast corner of Georgia and rain and possible frozen precipitation to the metro Atlanta area.
Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Brad Nitz said parts of the northeast Georgia mountains could see major impacts from snow and ice.
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A Winter Storm Warning went into effect Saturday for Union, Towns, Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Hall, Banks, Rabun and Habersham counties at 10 p.m.
Channel 2's Chris Jose, who said he saw a good amount of snow earlier in the day, visited Clayton in Rabun County Saturday.
A winter wonderland in Rabun County- Clayton. See you, Live at 11. #NightBeat #StormWatchOn2 @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/H3tyTQJZhY
— Chris Jose (@ChrisJoseWSB) December 9, 2018
Drivers fueled up knowing the next two days will likely hinder weekend plans.
A big concern overnight is whether the rain will ice over roads.
Georgia Department of Transportation crews said they were prepared for an ice event. Officials warned people who didn't need to be on the roads overnight to stay home.
"Power outages, trees down. Luckily the frozen part of this system we're expecting to be short-lived, but the ramifications could last for several days if we do end up losing a lot of power," said Capt. Zachary Brackett with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency.
Thousands of Georgia Power customers are without power across north Georgia. The National Weather Service said wind gusts will cause isolated power outages even in areas that do not receive wintry precipitation.
[RELATED: What's the difference between a winter storm watch and warning?]
LIVE UPDATES:
11:00 p.m.
Officials in Dahlonega said rain is turning into wet snow and sleet.
Rain has changed over to a wet snow and sleet in #Dahlonega #GaWx @BradNitzWSB @KatieWallsWSB @GlennBurnsWSB @wsbtv Elevation 1750’ pic.twitter.com/03jRhnD9ug
— Dahlonega Weather (@DahlonegaGaWx) December 9, 2018
10:00 p.m.
Winter Storm Warning now in effect for parts of NE Georgia.
8:11 p.m.
Channel 2's Chris Jose has crossed the north Georgia/North Carolina line where rain has totally turned over to snow.
All snow when you cross into North Carolina. We’re just north of Franklin, NC. #StormWatchOn2 #NightBeat @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/JULDy3xzFN
— Chris Jose (@ChrisJoseWSB) December 9, 2018
7:23 p.m.
Channel 2's Chris Jose is in Tiger, Ga, where snow has turned back over to rain for now.
As of this Tweet, just rain in Rabun County- Tiger. However, we are seeing snow on the ground. #StormWatchon2 @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/AS7GnT7kRa
— Chris Jose (@ChrisJoseWSB) December 9, 2018
7:19 p.m.
Nitz says some parts of northeast Georgia in the mountains could reach 6 - 12 inches in isolated areas:
ICYMI at 6pm on @wsbtv...
— Brad Nitz (@BradNitzWSB) December 9, 2018
These are the snowfall totals I'm forecasting for NE Georgia. Rabun county may have totals approaching a foot in isolated spots at the highest elevations. pic.twitter.com/FWd6rB5uvv
6:45 p.m.
Ice accumulation and freezing rain are possible over a large part of northeast Georgia:
On @wsbtv at 6pm I showed this area of ice accumulation in NE metro Atlanta where freezing rain is possible. The precise location of the rain/freezing rain line is uncertain. pic.twitter.com/s5mJIM8S6T
— Brad Nitz (@BradNitzWSB) December 8, 2018
4:40 p.m.
Nitz answered your questions about snow and potential ice moving in on Facebook.
HAPPENING NOW: Snow moves in to northeast GeorgiaHAPPENING NOW: Severe Weather Team 2's Brad Nitz is taking your questions as snow moves in to northeast Georgia. The potential for winter weather increases for metro Atlanta later tonight: https://2wsb.tv/2rts2YZ
Posted by WSB-TV on Saturday, December 8, 2018
4:39 p.m.
More snow, this time up in Sky Valley! If you are able to safely snap a photo, share it with us on Twitter using the hashtag #StormWatchOn2 or post it on our Facebook wall!
It's already looking like a winter wonderland in the far northeast corner of Georgia! A viewer in Sky Valley sent us these photos. LIVE UPDATES: https://t.co/Kr8eld709P #StormWatchOn2 pic.twitter.com/1xxyxhLyIX
— WSB-TV (@wsbtv) December 8, 2018
3:15 p.m.
Temperatures are falling in the metro Atlanta area. Freezing rain is possible later tonight.
Here's the latest high res model showing area of freezing rain really expanding toward Lake Lanier after midnight. In the meantime, just a cold, heavy at times rain.
— Brian Monahan, WSB (@BMonahanWSB) December 8, 2018
Mountain mix/snow will also increase late tonight -- especially higher elevations.@BradNitzWSB tracking. pic.twitter.com/NPcWbMI33H
Temps are in the mid to upper 30s now down 85 to 985 split... still above freezing... but they will be falling.
— Brian Monahan, WSB (@BMonahanWSB) December 8, 2018
Expecting a transition toward more wintry mix over the next few hours. @wsbtv
3:00 p.m.
Viewers have reported seeing accumulating snowfall in Rabun County. A viewer just sent us a picture of snow on roads in Tiger, Ga. in the far northeast corner of the state, where the elevation is just under 2,000 feet.
Let it snow! A viewer just sent us this picture of the roads in Tiger, Ga. in the far northeaster corner of the state. If you can safely take a picture, tag #StormWatchOn2! https://t.co/Kr8eld709P pic.twitter.com/5m1DghsV1S
— WSB-TV (@wsbtv) December 8, 2018
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