Don’t be fooled by the 50-degree temperatures Tuesday afternoon. The bitter cold is on the way, according to Channel 2 Action News forecasters.
Atlanta residents will start their morning Wednesday with temps around the freezing mark, while those in the suburbs will see the lower 30s and those in the mountains the lower 20s, chief meteorologist Glenn Burns says.
Temperatures won’t recover all that much with highs hitting the upper 30s or lower 40s at best, Burns adds. The arrival of the Arctic air in the afternoon will make temps tumble during the rush hours. Those who will be out in the late afternoon should brace for temps in the 20s and biting winds of 15-20 mph.
Luckily, little to no precipitation is expected to accompany those low temps.
“It’s not unheard of when Arctic cold fronts move in with dry and very cold air, to see a passing sprinkle or two,” Burns said, adding that residents in the north Georgia mountains could see some brief snow flurries.
Temperatures will be in the teens by 11 p.m. Wednesday, and Thursday morning’s low could bottom out around 15 degrees. It’s going to feel even colder.
“It doesn’t take much wind to create single-digit wind chills, which I think we’ll see in Atlanta around Thursday morning,” Burns said.
Thursday’s high will likely reach 32. Friday’s lows and highs will be a bit higher than their counterparts the day before, with temps starting around 20 and expected to reach the low 40s.
The weekend will be warmer, though not by much. Saturday and Sunday will see highs in the mid-40s and lows from the mid-20s to low 30s.
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Several communities and community organizations are expected to have cold weather shelters or warming centers open starting Wednesday night to help those vulnerable to the extreme temperatures due to hardships or other situations.
In Atlanta, the Old Adamsville Recreation center will serve as an emergency overflow shelter to those in need during the cold, the city announced. The shelter on Delmar Lane will open 6 p.m. Wednesday and stay open as needed and can accommodate as many as 100 individuals.
Other Atlanta organizations offering shelter from the harsh temperatures, according to United Way of Greater Atlanta, include My Sister’s House, 921 Howell Mill Road NW; The Shepherd’s Inn, 165 Ivan Allen Blvd. NW; and the Salvation Army, 400 Luckie St. NW.
Outside of Atlanta, organizations equipped to assist individuals during cold weather conditions include Action Church in Canton, MUST Ministries in Marietta and Bigger Vision of Athens Inc. in Athens.
More information on organizations providing assistance can be found at http://211online.unitedwayatlanta.org.
Homeowners, pet owners and gardeners should prepare as soon as possible for the cold weather, according to experts.
Know the location of shut-off valves in case a pipe bursts, open kitchen and bathroom cabinets so warmer air can circulate below the sinks and allow a small trickle of water to run overnight Wednesday night. The state Insurance Commissioner, Ralph Hudgens, advises caution when using space heaters or wood stoves, which should be kept a safe distance from things that could easily catch fire, such as curtains or bedding.
If your home is damaged by the weather conditions, homeowners’ insurance or renters’ insurance may not cover repairs, Hudgens said.
Bring smaller container plants indoors and cover outdoor plants with straw, blankets or cardboard. Also, automatic sprinklers should be turned off. All pets should be brought indoors when temperatures plummet.
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