The Atlanta icebox will add snow to the mix Thursday, forecasters predict.
A dusting of snow is expected to begin falling in the afternoon across northwest and west-central Georgia. The white stuff will then spread across the remainder of north and central Georgia during the afternoon hours and into Thursday night.
Wednesday, the morning low was 19 at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, 10 degrees colder than the 29 degrees reported in Anchorage. It was also colder than Quebec City's 25, Montreal's 22 and Buffalo's overnight low of 20.
"The atmosphere should be cold enough to support all snow north of a line from Dallas to Gainesville," the Weather Service said in a statement issued Wednesday. "South of this line, a mixture of rain, snow and sleet will be possible."
Forecasters said preliminary indications were that 1 to 2 inches of snow could accumulate across the North Georgia mountains, with up to an inch possible north of a line from Columbus to Washington – an area that includes all of metro Atlanta.
The chance of snow is 60 percent Thursday and 40 percent Thursday night. Highs Thursday should be in the upper 30s, but overnight lows near 20 degrees are predicted.
Officials with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency warn area residents to be prepared because Georgia is not usually prone to extreme snow and ice.
“With recent temperatures at or below freezing and a chance of snow this week, I strongly urge Georgians to prepare now for winter weather,” said Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) Director Charley English.
Tips for how to prepare yourself and your family can be found at www.ready.ga.gov.