Winter forecast for metro Atlanta: Wet and cold

Winter weather in Atlanta in February 2015.

Credit: John Spink

Credit: John Spink

Winter weather in Atlanta in February 2015.

Georgians should probably get their coats and umbrellas ready.

Parts of the Southeast, including much of Georgia and other Deep South states, may experience a colder-than-usual winter with a higher-than-normal amount of precipitation, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's models.

The outlook indicates parts of Georgia as having a "greater-than-average chance" of low temperatures and high total precipitation, compared to the winters from 1981 to 2010. (Warmer, drier winters are possible across parts of the northern United States.)

The months included in the outlook are December through February.

Click here for a deeper look at the metro forecast for the winter at myAJC

"A strong El Niño is in place and should exert a strong influence over our weather this winter," Mike Halpert, deputy director of the NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, told The Weather Channel.

But in the long term, mild winters are something metro Atlantans should get used to, according to one analysis: Climate Central predictions have Sandy Springs feeling more like Pensacola, Fla., by the year 2100.

However, if Georgia is hit by another 2014-like storm, here's a guide on preparing your house and your car for a storm.