Georgia braces for cold weather, local schools and universities close

Note: On Thursday, Bibb County Schools announced schools and offices will be closed on Friday in light of the National Weather Service’s winter weather advisory.

Macon could see snow and ice Friday morning as overnight temperatures are expected to plummet into the 20s as a polar vortex moves south across the country.

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch for Atlanta starting Friday morning.

Whether Macon sees snow or just rain depends on how long temperatures stay below freezing. A mix of snow and rain will hit Georgia Friday morning before temperatures warm up, Dylan Lusk, a senior meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Peachtree City, told The Melody.

Bibb County Spokesperson Chris Floore said several local shelters with “ample open beds” will have extended hours ahead of the freezing temperatures throughout the week. 

Floore said because Georgia weather is “fickle at best” the county will have a better idea of what needs to be done, like salting the roads, heading into Friday.

The Brookdale Resource Center and Salvation Army have enabled a “cold weather activation,” said Jake Hall, executive director of United to End Homelessness, in a Facebook post. Guests can stay longer through the evening to stay out of the cold weather.

The Brookdale Resource Center, which includes the Hello House, has 170 beds.

Hall told the Melody that the shelters are trying to get the word out to people in need through providers, like Depaul USA and the Coalition to End Homelessness.

Intake for Brookdale Resource Center is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and intake for Hello House is open from 4-6 p.m.

Lusk said lingering cold air that’s pushed down into Georgia has created conditions for winter precipitation. 

“Going into Friday, especially Friday morning, there’s a pretty strong low pressure system that is going to move along the gulf coast and bring precipitation,” he said.

Lusk said there is still a lot of uncertainty with the weather for regions south of Atlanta, namely with how far south cold air will travel. A southward shift in cold air could increase winter weather chances.

Depending on morning temperatures and winter precipitation, Macon could see some snow or ice start to stick, including on roads. As of Tuesday, Lusk said the probability of icing is around 20-to-30% in Macon. 

The more likely forecast is that things will warm up and roadways will melt later as the day goes on. 

On Friday, folks should take precautions with their pipes if they are exposed to the cold and make sure pets stay warm, Lusk noted.

Middle Georgia State University and Wesleyan College are moving their classes online ahead of the weather.

This post will be updated with additional information as it becomes available.