National Weather Services Atlanta has placed the metro Atlanta region under winter watch from Friday morning at 7 a.m. to Saturday at 7 a.m. (Emil Moffatt/WABE)
This story was updated on Jan. 9, 2025, at 6:08 p.m.
The National Weather Service upgraded the approaching winter storm in Georgia from a watch to a warning, signaling that hazardous weather is imminent.
Around 4 p.m. Thursday, the NWS in Atlanta predicted between 1 to 3 inches of snow and sleet in the northern half of the state and at least one-quarter inch of freezing rain accumulation along the I-85 and I-20 corridors from 7 a.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday.
NWS predicts a mix of precipitation types in Atlanta and southwards, with snow in the morning transitioning to sleet and freezing rain.
The areas affected by a winter storm warning and winter storm advisory from 7 a.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. (NWS Atlanta)
Government office and school closings are piling up and local and state leaders are mobilizing resources in advance of the storm.
Georgia state buildings on Capitol Hill are closed on Friday.
The City of Atlanta announced on X their decision to close government buildings, including municipal courts, on Friday in anticipation of the harsh weather. Employees will work virtually.
DeKalb County offices, senior centers, libraries, rec centers, the sanitation division’s customer service desk and the planning department’s one-stop-shop will be closed.
Cobb County government operations will be closed on Friday and Saturday due to the storm. This includes PARKS facilities and Libraries. Cobb County Chief Judge Gregory Poole issued an order closing the courthouse on Friday, Jan. 10 with normal court operations scheduled to resume Monday, Jan. 13.
Fulton County public facilities, including courts and libraries, will be closed on Friday.
Grady Hospital will remain open, but all Grady Health clinics and neighborhood health centers will be closed on Friday. Elective and non-urgent procedures scheduled for Friday will be rescheduled.
Emory Healthcare hospitals will continue to operate Friday, though outpatient clinics and ambulatory surgery centers will be closed then. Appointments at the latter two will be rescheduled. Some clinics will be open for critical treatments.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport officials encouraged travelers to monitor their airline’s social media channels, emails and apps for updates on delays and cancellations.
Snow, sleet, freezing rain forecast for metro Atlanta
A mix of rain, freezing rain, sleet and snow will move into Georgia by sunrise Friday and continue pushing east across the northern part of the state — including metro Atlanta — throughout the day, according to the National Weather Service.
The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency is encouraging residents to stay at home this weekend, as well as to prepare ready kits in case of emergency. This includes a three-day food and water supply, first aid kit and battery-powered or hand crank radio.
The declaration activates the state operations center and mobilizes resources among state agencies including the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, the Georgia Department of Transportation and the Georgia Department of Public Safety. It also includes prohibitions on price gouging during the storm and temporarily increases height, weight and length limits for commercial vehicles transporting essential supplies.
Warming centers remain open
On Thursday, the City of Atlanta announced that warming centers will be open 24 hours until Sunday, Jan. 12 at noon. The Central Park Recreation Center, located at 400 Merritts Ave. NE, will be used to lodge men, while Selena S. Butler Park, located at 98 WM Holmes Borders Dr. SE, is designated for women and children.
Earlier this week, five metro Atlanta counties announced plans to keep their warming centers open on Monday and several other days this week.
Four DeKalb warming centers will be open 24 hours a day “until further notice,” according to the county on Monday.
The respective locations are Frontline Response International at 2585 Gresham Rd., Tobie Grant Recreation Center at 593 Parkdale Dr., Mason Mill Recreation Center at 1340 McConnell Dr. and Exchange Recreation Center at 2771 Columbia Dr.
Transportation pickups will be available to Frontline International at the following locations:
• Chamblee Library, 4115 Clairmont Rd., Chamblee, 5:40 p.m. to 6 p.m. • North DeKalb Senior/Community Center, 3393 Malone Dr., Chamblee, 7:30 p.m. to 7:50 p.m. • Mason Mill Recreation Center, 1340 McConnell Dr., 9 p.m. to 9:20 p.m. • Avondale Fire Station No. 3, 100 N. Clarendon Ave., Avondale Estates, Pick up No. 1, 6:20 p.m. to 6:40 p.m.; Pick up No. 2, 7:30 p.m. to 7:50 p.m. • 2027 Candler Rd., Decatur, 8:40 p.m. to 9 p.m. • D&K Suit City Parking Lot: 5239 Memorial Dr., Stone Mountain, 6:20 p.m. to 6:40 p.m. • 2724 Wesley Chapel Rd., Decatur, 7:30 p.m. to 7:50 p.m. • Exchange Park Intergeneration Center, 2771 Columbia Dr., Decatur, 8:40 p.m. to 9 p.m.
In Gwinnett, warming centers will be open from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 9 and Friday, Jan. 10.
On Monday, Cobb officials announced that the Hope House Shelter, operated by the county-based MUST Ministries, will open its doors for the next five days, Jan. 6 – Jan. 10, to men, women and children.
The county states that it is partnering with MUST to provide transportation to individuals needing shelter during the upcoming inclement weather. Hope House is located in Marietta, at 1297 Bells Ferry Rd.
Beginning Tuesday, Clayton officials announced the opening of seven warming centers and shelters to help shield residents from cold temperatures.
The Clayton County Police Headquarters in Jonesboro will open its doors at 11 p.m. and close daily at 9 a.m. until Jan. 11.
The other six locations will also run from Jan 7. – Jan. 13, with hours of operation from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. The respective facilities are embedded below.
