Winter storm updates Friday: Arctic air to hit parts of northern Georgia; snow possible this weekend

GEORGIA, USA — Another blast of winter weather is expected to hit across northern Georgia this weekend, but instead of ice, snow is expected to fall.

A Weather Impact Alert has been issued for prolonged sub-freezing temperatures, as well as the possibility of snow on Saturday. Cold air, along with gusty winds, will make temperatures Saturday night and Sunday morning feel like the single digits. 

As temperatures are expected to reach a dangerously cold level, an Extreme Cold Watch has gone into effect for the weekend until Sunday afternoon. 

Residents should prepare their homes for winter weather and bring pets indoors.

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for parts of northern Georgia, including Fulton County, Cobb County, Coweta County, Douglas County, Paulding County and more counties in the western part of northern Georgia, as the purple area shows in the map below. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for the areas in pink, including Athens-Clarke County, Oconee County, Hall County, Gwinnett County, Barrow County, Newton County and more. 

A spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) told 11Alive that they are back out on the roads, preparing the streets for winter weather. According to GDOT, they have 2 million gallons of brine ready for the whole state. They will start brining the roads at 7 a.m. on Friday. 

Oconee County Emergency Management Director CJ Warden speaks with 11Alive about how they are prepping for possible snow this weekend. The county is expected to get between 2″ and 4″ inches of snow this weekend as arctic air plunges into northern Georgia. 

11Alive will be streaming winter weather storm coverage throughout the weekend in our new streaming center. Click here to find out where to watch streaming coverage.