Winter officially began with temperatures near the freezing mark across metro Atlanta before daybreak Friday, and forecasters are predicting even colder lows for Friday night.
Strong westerly winds gusting up to 39 mph made those frigid temperatures feel even colder.
Readings at 7 a.m. included 34 degrees, with a wind chill of 21, at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, 32 with a wind chill of 19 in Marietta and 32 with a wind chill of 24 in Dunwoody.
A wind advisory was in effect for all of north and central Georgia until 7 p.m. Friday.
Those strong winds brought down some trees, causing scattered power outages.
Atlanta police dispatchers reported a large tree and power lines down on Waterford Drive in northwest Atlanta around midnight, while in DeKalb County, downed trees and utility lines blocked the intersection of Stewart Mill and Rockbridge roads at 7 a.m. Friday, according to Doug Turnbull in the AM750 and 95.5FM New/Talk WSB Traffic Center.
Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Karen Minton said afternoon highs Friday will only reach the mid-40s before temperatures plunge into the upper 20s Friday night.
The weekend will be sunny and a little warmer, with highs around 50 degrees Saturday and in the mid-50s Sunday, and lows early Sunday in the low 30s.
Minton’s holiday forecast calls for a 50 percent chance of rain on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, with afternoon highs around 60 degrees and overnight lows in the mid-40s.
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