North Georgians don’t need a large rodent to tell them the obvious Tuesday: Winter is in full force.
A strong wind is contributing to wind chills in the 20s in metro Atlanta and the single digits in the mountains, where snow continued to fall Tuesday morning and winter weather advisories were in effect. No one would blame a groundhog for retreating to its den on a blustery day like today.
“Of course that is the folklore, whether we have six more weeks of winter or an early spring,” Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan said. “We’re going to hope for an early spring.”
Monahan said the wind will stick around for much of the day Tuesday, gusting up to 40 mph. A wind advisory is in effect for all of North Georgia through 4 p.m.
It is “extra cold,” Monahan said.
“Maybe you’ve looked at the app this morning and you’ve seen that forecast high up to the mid-40s,” he said. “It’s not going to feel anywhere close to that, because we’re going to have these strong wind gusts. Temperatures are going to feel more like it’s down in the 30s and 20s through the afternoon.”
The projected high for Atlanta is 44 degrees.
Because of freezing temperatures and windy conditions, public health officials in Cobb and Douglas counties are delaying the opening of Jim Miller Park for COVID-19 vaccinations. Those with a confirmed appointment between 9 and 11 a.m. should arrive for their appointment anytime between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
All of North Georgia will be frosty, but only the mountains should see snow Tuesday, according to Channel 2. Monahan said the heaviest snow is still well to the north of the state, but some snow showers and flurries could continue in the higher elevations through the morning.
The National Weather Service extended a winter storm warning for Fannin, Gilmer and Murray counties until 10 a.m. A winter weather advisory was also in effect until 10 a.m. for Dawson, Lumpkin, Towns, Union and White counties.
“There will be low wind chills and slippery travel there,” Monahan said.
Wednesday won’t be quite as bitter, he said. A warming trend is expected to bring temperatures back into the mid-50s, which is about average for this time of year. Rain should also stay away until Friday.
“We’ve got some late week rain to deal with,” Monahan said.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
The wind has knocked out power to traffic signals all across metro Atlanta, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center. In Gwinnett County, 16 traffic lights were disabled along Peachtree Industrial Boulevard in the Sugar Hill area.
Light poles were brought down at the Nelson Brogdon Boulevard intersection overnight, and repairs stretched into Tuesday morning, the Traffic Center reported. The intersection has since reopened.
In DeKalb County, police in Dunwoody said lights are malfunctioning on Ashford Dunwoody Road at Perimeter Center West. The Traffic Center is advising drivers to proceed with caution through the area.
“You might see tree limbs, tree debris on the roads on your way out of the house,” traffic reporter Mark Arum said.
Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM
Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM
The majority of the problems Tuesday morning were on surface streets, Arum said. Conditions were lighter than normal on the interstates at 8 a.m.
» For a detailed forecast, visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution weather page.
» For updated traffic information, listen to News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB and follow @ajcwsbtraffic on Twitter.
» Download The Atlanta Journal-Constitution app for weather alerts on-the-go.
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