Temperatures have plunged nearly 30 degrees in the past 24 hours after a cold front swept through North Georgia.
“Maybe you noticed it’s vastly different this morning compared to yesterday,” Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Katie Walls said. “This time yesterday temperatures were running in the low 60s. Well now, we're in the low 30s.”
Factoring in the wind chill, Atlanta feels more like the low 20s Wednesday morning. Walls said the wind chill will be running in the 20s through the morning hours.
Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM
Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM
“This morning is going to be cold, bottom line,” Walls said.
The cold weather is on the backside of a powerful weather system that produced 28 reports of tornadoes from Louisiana to South Georgia, she said. No damage was reported in North Georgia, but areas in Irwin, Miller and Early counties are still cleaning up.
While the National Weather Service has not yet assessed the strength of the two reported tornadoes there, Walls said they look to be significant based on the level of damage. She expects the twisters to be classified as EF2 or EF3.
Winds are sticking around in North Georgia on Wednesday, but they will not compare to tornado-strength gusts. Walls said a northerly wind will gust up to 25 mph during the morning hours and up to 20 mph later this afternoon.
No rain is expected, and much of the clouds associated with the cold front have moved out overnight.
“Plentiful sunshine in my forecast, but we will be dealing with some gusty winds,” she said.
It will stay chilly the next couple of days, according to Channel 2. Metro Atlanta is not expected to make it out of the 40s Wednesday and Thursday, and Friday’s projected high is only 52 degrees.
Winter officially begins Saturday, the day with the fewest daylight hours of the year. While it will still be chilly, temperatures in the 40s Saturday won’t be quite cold enough for winter precipitation, according to the latest forecast.
“The next big chance for rain arriving right in time for the weekend,” Walls said. “Scattered rain for your Saturday, and rain likely for your Sunday.”
Reports of black ice on the roads has prompted schools in Union County to delay the start of the school day by two hours, according to Channel 2. There are no concerns on metro Atlanta roadways.
“It’s cold here in metro Atlanta, but no reports of any icy patches yet,” WSB traffic reporter Ashley Frasca said. “That’s good news.”
The Wednesday morning drive is off to a delay-free start, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center. While volume is building, all metro Atlanta interstates are moving along fine at 6 a.m.
» For a detailed forecast, visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution weather page.
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