This week’s temps could be season’s coldest

Winter returns to metro Atlanta with a vengeance this week, and Monday morning’s low of 28 was just a taste of what’s to come.

Lows in the mid-teens are expected later in the week, and there is a chance of snow flurries across extreme North Georgia, the National Weather Service said.

Forecasters predict a 20 percent chance of rain and snow showers across the mountain counties Tuesday afternoon and evening, with another slight chance of snow Wednesday night and Thursday, and again on Friday night.

Since winter began on Dec. 21, Atlanta has recorded 17 days with above-average temperatures and only 3 with below-average readings, the Weather Service said.

“Some of the coldest air of the season is poised to pour into Georgia on Thursday, so the main forecast concerns will be how low temperatures will be and whether or not any precipitation falls,” the Weather Service said.

Forecasters said that while most late-week precipitation will remain north of the state, the far northern counties could see a few light snow showers.

The forecast for metro Atlanta calls for partly cloudy skies and lows in the low 30s Monday night, followed by partly sunny skies on Tuesday, with highs in the low 50s and lows Tuesday night in the low 20s.

Sunny skies are forecast for Wednesday, with highs in the upper 40s and lows Wednesday night in the mid-20s.

Thursday will be partly sunny, with highs in the low 40s and lows by Friday morning around 15 degrees, the Weather Service said.

Friday will be sunny but cold, with temperatures reaching only into the upper 30s before dropping back to around 17 degrees Friday night.

The outlook for the weekend calls for mostly sunny skies on Saturday, becoming mostly cloudy on Sunday, with highs each day in the mid-40s and lows in the mid-20s.