1. A winter storm warning is now in effect for 50 Georgia counties, and runs through 10 a.m. Thursday.
2. The forecast calls for as much as 4 inches of snow to the northern suburbs and 8 inches to the mountain counties. About an inch of snow or a rain/snow mix is expected across the southern fringes of metro Atlanta. Channel 2 meteorologists say the storm system is moving from the west and has now crossed into Alabama.
3. Gov. Nathan Deal has declared a state of emergency for disaster preparedness for much of the metro Atlanta and north Georgia, starting at 2 p.m. today. Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed has outlined a staggered exit from the city, with students and children being picked up between noon-2 p.m., and all workers off work and off the roads by 4 p.m.
4. "By the time we get to 6 p.m., it will be a dicey commute home, so hopefully you will make plans to leave early to avoid this mess that is bound to get things into a topsy-turvy condition for us later on this evening," Channel 2 meteorologist Karen Minton said.
5. The state transportation department has moved 80 extra staffers into north Georgia from other parts of the state. It will also unleash 13 tanker trucks to apply a ballyhooed brine mix to major highways at midnight. At least 15 newly-formed "strike teams" will be poised to help clear traffic and remove debris. And the Georgia State Patrol is to deploy 174 troopers for rapid response to accidents.
6. Gov. Deal has ordered all state government offices to close at noon today. All metro area school districts have also closed and Delta has canceled about 450 flights, nearly all of them in Atlanta. So far, however, the Hawks-Mavericks game is still scheduled for tonight.
7. Here's a complete list of the attractions and events and the businesses and schools that have closed, will close early or will be delayed because of the weather.
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