Winter returns with weekend temps in the 20s, possible mountain snow

By Mike Morris

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

If you're wondering what happened to winter this year, you'll find it this weekend, when the mercury is expected to plunge deep into the 20s across metro Atlanta.

There could even be a wintry mix of precipitation across the mountain counties early Saturday, the National Weather Service said.

Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Karen Minton said lows across metro Atlanta will be in the mid-20s early Sunday and again early Monday. Extreme North Georgia could see low temperatures in the mid-teens, forecasters said.

Until the weekend, metro Atlantans can expect highs in the mid-50s Thursday and Friday, with overnight lows in the mid- to upper 30s.

Minton said there's a 20 percent chance of rain Friday night and early Saturday, ahead of a cold front that will keep highs in the mid-40s on Saturday and Sunday.

"This timing opens the window for the possibility of a wintry wake-up in the North Georgia mountains on Saturday morning," the Weather Service said in a statement.

While Minton said a dusting of snow is possible in the mountains, the air across metro Atlanta should remain warm enough Friday night that any precipitation will fall as rain.