Georgia Winter Storm Watch: Major ice threat looms
A dangerous mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain will sweep into North Georgia beginning late Friday night. A Winter Storm Watch has already been issued for over 20 counties, with the FOX 5 Storm Team warning of potential ice accumulations up to an inch that could make travel impossible and trigger widespread power outages.
ATLANTA – Emergency officials are urging North Georgians to finalize emergency plans as a powerful winter storm takes aim at the region, threatening to bring “crippling” ice accumulations and widespread power outages starting late Friday night.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for much of North Georgia, effective from 1 a.m. Saturday through 10 a.m. Monday. Forecasters warn that travel could become impossible over the weekend, with hazardous conditions likely lingering into the Monday morning commute.
Georgia Winter Storm Watch
What we know:
A Winter Storm Watch is in effect across much of north and northeast Georgia from Saturday through Monday, according to the National Weather Service.
The alert indicates a significant threat to life or property due to potential winter weather impacts.
Counties under the watch include Elbert, Habersham, Hart, Stephens, Rabun and Franklin, covered by the National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg, where the watch runs from 7 a.m. Saturday until 1 p.m. Monday.
A separate watch issued by the National Weather Service Atlanta covers a wide swath of North Georgia — including Cherokee, Forsyth, Hall, Bartow, Floyd, Lumpkin, Union, White, Dawson, Gilmer, Fannin, Pickens, Murray, Walker, Whitfield and surrounding counties — from 1 a.m. Saturday until 10 a.m. Monday.
Conditions could become dangerous as colder air moves in, with the potential for disruptive winter precipitation, according to the FOX 5 Atlanta Storm Team.
The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Watch for North Georgia on January 21, 2026. (FOX 5 weather)
The FOX 5 Storm Team issued Storm Alert Days for Saturday and Sunday.
Freezing rain, ice are biggest threats
What they’re saying:
The FOX 5 Storm Team is tracking a “recipe” for significant freezing rain.
“Freezing rain and ice is going to be our biggest weekend threat. Thing is, the duration of this is going to be a while,” said FOX 5 Storm Team Chief Meteorologist David Chandley. “That is a recipe for some freezing rain falling as liquid and then freezing on contact. And we’re going to get several hours of that right into Saturday night into early Sunday morning.”
FOX 5 Storm Team meteorologist Alex Forbes emphasized that the storm is not “going north” and missing the city. “We are still forecasting an impactful, significant ice storm for metro Atlanta and North Georgia this weekend,” Forbes said. “An expansion [of the Winter Storm Watch] into metro Atlanta is likely.”
‘Generational’ ice in Georgia
What we don’t know:
“These are totals now that are…could be, could be generational, meaning that we haven’t seen that much ice before,” Chandley said. “We’ll see what happens.”
Winter storm this weekend
Timeline:
Wintry precipitation will arrive in stages, beginning in the mountains before spilling into the metro area.
- Thursday – Friday: Light, scattered rain showers are expected with temperatures remaining above freezing.
- Late Friday Night: Rain begins to transition to a wintry mix in the far northern mountains.
- Saturday Morning: Cold air “wedges” into the region. Precipitation will transition to freezing rain and sleet across North Georgia.
- Saturday Night – Sunday: The peak of the storm. Heavy freezing rain is expected for Metro Atlanta and North Georgia.
- Late Sunday: Precipitation begins to exit the area, but temperatures will plummet.
PREPARE FOR THE STORM by knowing the different terms the FOX 5 storm team will use while forecasting
How much snow and ice?
Local perspective:
Impacts will vary by elevation and latitude:
- North Georgia Mountains: Up to 4 inches of snow and sleet are possible, combined with significant ice.
- Metro Atlanta: The primary threat is freezing rain. Accumulations between a quarter to a half-inch are possible.
- South of I-20: While mostly rain is expected, a stronger “wedge” could push freezing rain as far south as Macon.
Arctic air headed in the South
Big picture view:
Meteorologists are monitoring a “classic wedge” setup, where cold Arctic air is pushed down the Appalachian Mountains and trapped against the ground. While some computer models recently suggested a northward shift, forecasters are currently treating those as “outliers.”
The FOX 5 Storm Team noted that a Pacific low-pressure system moving eastward will be the primary driver of the moisture. Data from reconnaissance flights is being used to refine the track, but high confidence remains that a cold air wedge will reinforce a freezing rain setup for North Georgia.
Potentially ‘crippling’ ice storm
Why you should care:
This storm carries the potential to be “disruptive” or even “crippling.”
- Power Outages: Ice buildup of a quarter-inch or more on trees and power lines causes them to snap. Wind gusts of 20-30 mph will add extra stress to ice-laden branches.
- Dangerous Travel: Bridges, overpasses, and surface roads will become slick and potentially impassable.
- Deep Freeze: Temperatures will stay below freezing for a prolonged period, meaning ice will not melt quickly and pipes could burst.
How to STAY WARM should you lose power
Cold days ahead
By the numbers:
Metro Atlanta Forecast:
- Thursday: High 48 | Low 40 (40%–50% chance of rain)
- Friday: High 47| Low 32 (40%–50% chance of rain)
- Saturday: High 36 | Low 28 (90% chance of rain/freezing rain/snow)
- Sunday: High 34 | Low 16 (80% chance of freezing rain/sleet)
North Georgia Mountains Forecast:
- Saturday: High 36 | Low 25 (100% chance of snow/freezing rain)
- Sunday: High 36 | Low 13 (80% chance of rain/freezing rain)
Sub-freezing temperatures to remain
What’s next:
The region will enter a deep freeze early next week. Monday and Tuesday see daytime highs struggling to reach the mid-30s, with Monday night lows dropping into the single digits (8 degrees in Atlanta, 3 degrees in the mountains). Any ice that melts during the day will likely refreeze overnight, creating “black ice” hazards through Wednesday.
Finalize your winter storm preps
What you can do:
Ahead of the storm, the FOX 5 Storm Team is urging everyone to prepare for the worst. They said all your shopping and home preparations should be done by Friday at sunset to be ready for the storm to move in on Saturday.
State and local officials across North Georgia are preparing for a potential winter storm that could bring significant ice and snow beginning Friday night and lasting through the weekend.
Georgia weather closures
Dig deeper:
FOX 5 has begun receiving closures related to weather. Make sure you stay up-to-date with the latest closures by clicking this link.
The Source: Information in this article came from the FOX 5 Storm Team meteorologist and their forecast. It will be updated throughout the day Wednesday with the latest information. The watch report comes from the NWS.
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