Governor Brian Kemp has declared a State of Emergency for all of Georgia ahead of a winter storm expected to impact the state beginning Friday. The declaration is in effect until Tuesday, January 14.
The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and Department of Public Safety (DPS) have begun treating roads in preparation for the winter storm. Governor Kemp encouraged Georgians to avoid unnecessary travel over the next few days as road conditions could become hazardous due to ice and snow.
The declaration will allow the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) to activate the State Operations Center (SOC) and mobilize any needed reources to address potential impacts. GEMA/HS, the Georgia departments of transportation and public safety and other state agencies will be staffing the SOC which will move to a Level 2 Activation beginning Thursday evening, Jan. 9, at 7 p.m.
The order also prohibits price gouging, suspends hours-of-service limitations for commercial vehicles responding to the emergency, and temporarily increases weight, height, and length limits for commercial vehicles transporting essential supplies.
According to the National Weather Service, a mix of rain, freezing rain, sleet, and snow will move into western Georgia by Friday morning and spread across North and Central Georgia throughout the day. The precipitation will continue through Friday evening and diminish early Saturday morning.
The greatest impacts will be along and north of the I-20 Corridor but snow and/or ice accumulations are possible as far south as Columbus and Macon. A Winter Storm Watch is in effect for 59 counties from Friday morning through Saturday morning. The watch may be upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning or Winter Weather Advisory this afternoon and may include more counties in Central Georgia.
Snow and sleet accumulations could reach 2 to 4 inches across North Georgia with up to 2 inches across Metro Atlanta and areas to the east. Ice accumulations of 1/10th to 1/4th inch are also possible across the area. While counties in Central Georgia are under a Winter Weather Advisory, snowfall will be much less but enough to cause problems.
GDOT crews and vehicles are currently spreading brine on roads especially north of and along I-20. Motorists should use caution and be prepared to slow down and allow crews plenty of room to work. The Motor Carrier Compliance Division and DPS Troopers will be escorting brining details across the metro area into northern Georgia.
Residents should contact local officials for warming center and comfort station locations. A list of state parks with warming centers is available here. Additional winter weather preparedness tips may be found on the GEMA/HS website at gema.georgia.gov/winter.
