Monday morning eastbound commuters to Atlanta could face freezing rain and snow could fall in northern suburbs after a cold Sunday despite a pleasantly warm prediction for Saturday, Channel 2 Action News reported.
That is despite what Georgia's famous groundhog, Gen. Beauregard Lee, said earlier this month about spring being just around the corner.
But meteorologists warn not to put too much faith in early weather reports regarding temperatures and snowfall through Monday — saying the outcomes could change.
“There are a great many uncertainties with all computer models right now,” Severe Weather Team 2 chief meteorologist Glenn Burns said Friday.
Still, Saturday should have highs around 55 degrees and then it should start getting colder on Sunday with a chance light snow that night in north Georgia with “maybe a flurry or two” in the northern metro suburbs Monday morning, Burns said.
The National Weather Service said in a statement early Friday that there is a “potential for periods of mixed precipitation from Sunday night into Tuesday night. At this time, some rain and/or snow looks reasonable.”
Get the timing of the winter weather and an updated forecast on Channel 2 Action News.
Saturday will be windy and warmer, with morning lows in the upper 20s and afternoon highs in the mid-50s, Burns said.
On Sunday, temperatures will climb only to around 36 after starting the day in the low 20s.
The Weather Service is forecasting rain and snow Monday and Monday night for the northern suburbs of metro Atlanta, turning to all rain Tuesday before changing to all snow Tuesday night.
The risk of a rain/snow mix will continue into Wednesday before the precipitation tapers off Wednesday night, according to the Weather Service.
Lows early Monday will be around 25 with afternoon highs only in the upper 30s, according to the Channel 2 forecast. Lows Tuesday are predicted in the mid-30s to be followed by afternoon highs in the mid 40s. There is a 60 percent chance of rain or snow both days, the forecast said.
The Georgia Department of Transportation is preparing a brine solution to spray on major interstates, Channel 2 reported.
“Our priority interstates, inside I-285 and outside I-285. We will get all lanes so it won’t just be bridges and overpasses,” spokeswoman Natalie Dale told Channel 2.
While most metro schools will be closed Monday because of Presidents’ Day, Cobb County schools are scheduled for business as usual unless the weather intervenes.
“We are watching the weather closely – and will make the decision early Monday, possibly Sunday night, to determine whether schools will be closed,” Cobb schools spokeswoman Jennifer Gates told Channel 2.
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