More wind, falling temps for metro Atlanta

By Christopher Seward

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A wintry blast moved across north Georgia on Saturday, bringing blustery conditions, reports of downed trees and falling temperatures that will be in the teens Sunday morning.

The wind was so strong, with gusts up to around 45 mph, that the National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for much of the day.

"This wind will continue to blow, and that’ll push wind chills down into the single digits Sunday morning,” Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brad Nitz said. “As we head through the day on Sunday we’ll continue with a cold north to northwest wind and clear skies.”

The day started Saturday with reports of snow flurries in north metro Atlanta after an Arctic blast arrived with a cold front across the Southeast.

In far northeast Georgia, state Department of Transportation crews removed snow from state routes in Towns and Union counties. Less than a half inch of snow fell in the highest elevations of the area.

As the wind picked up Saturday, there were reports of trees falling in parts of the metro area, including in Buckhead in northwest Atlanta and in Gwinnett County.

The chilly weather Saturday, with highs only the mid- to upper 30s, was a reminder that winter doesn't officially end for another five weeks.

It will be sunny, cold and windy Sunday with highs in the mid-40s and lows Sunday night again approaching the teens.

By Monday, afternoon readings should climb back into the low to mid-50s, with lows Monday night bottoming out in the upper 30s.

Seasonal temperatures are expected for most of next week, but there will be a chance of rain Tuesday and again Thursday. Another cold front will bring cooler conditions by the end of the week.

Staff writer Patrick Fox contributed to this report.