It won’t be a white Christmas, but it will be a rainy one.
Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brad Nitz said rain is a “virtual guarantee” in North Georgia on Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning. There’s also a good chance of thunderstorms, with the strongest ones likely to occur early Wednesday to the southwest of Atlanta.
Nitz predicts a 100 percent chance of rain on Christmas and 90 percent chance of rain on Wednesday. His forecast calls for highs around 60 degrees Tuesday and in the mid-50s Wednesday, with overnight lows in the upper 40s.
Colder weather is forecast by week’s end, with highs in the 40s and 50s and lows in the 30s. The chance of rain could return on Saturday, he said.
The prospect of storms led the weather service to urge residents to check the batteries in their weather radios or install severe-weather alert apps on their smart phones. A heavy downfall could make roads treacherous for holiday travelers.
Traffic accidents in Georgia killed 13 people during the holiday period that began at 6 p.m. Friday, the Georgia Department of Public Safety said early Tuesday afternoon. The department also recorded 595 traffic crashes and 231 injuries. Last year, there were four statewide traffic deaths over Christmas, according to department statistics.
The eerie fog that descended upon metro Atlanta contributed to at least one fatal wreck. Cobb County police say 46-year-old Luca Kosic was killed and several others were injured on Monday night after their car was struck by another vehicle that had crossed the center line. Authorities blamed “extreme dense fog” as a factor in the crash.
Georgia State Patrol spokesman Gordy Wright advised motorists to be alert and adjust their driving to changing weather conditions. On wet roads, he said, motorists should avoid sudden lane changes, allow plenty of distance between vehicles before changing lanes and increase their following distance from vehicles ahead. Motorists also should remember it will take them longer to stop on wet pavement.
State troopers are watching for impaired drivers across the state. Last year the Georgia State Patrol arrested 139 people on charges of driving under the influence during the Christmas holiday period.
About the Author
