Rough Draft will provide regular storm updates on our website throughout the weekend, as well as on our Facebook and Instagram pages. For weather updates, visit WSB-TV.
Winter storm preparedness guide • MARTA service updates • Restaurant closures/hours • Storm-related cancellations
9 p.m.
We’ve been hearing reports about milk, bread, and the usual winter storm staples disappearing from local grocery store shelves. Contributor Jacob Nguyen snapped these photos tonight at the Lidl on Northside Drive near Georgia Tech showing empty or nearly empty shelves.
5:45 p.m.
Multiple metro Atlanta school systems have announced the cancellation of in-person classes on Monday, Jan. 26.
Around 5 p.m., Fulton County Schools announced it would shift to remote learning and a remote work day on Jan. 26.
“Employees will work remotely and will receive additional guidance from their principal or supervisor regarding work expectations,” read a Fulton County Schools statement.
DeKalb County announced around 5:30 p.m. that all DeKalb County School District schools, centers, and offices will be closed Jan. 26. All 12-month employees are expected to work remotely. City Schools of Decatur will close its administrative and school buildings for a remote day on Monday as well.
5:20 p.m.
Georgia Power has announced that it will suspend service disconnections in advance of this weekend’s storm. The suspension of services will begin Jan. 23 and extend until Thursday, Jan. 29.
4 p.m.
Georgia Power teams are making final preparations to respond to damage and power outages caused by Winter Storm Fern, according to a media release. More than 10,000 personnel – including Georgia Power, contracting companies, and partner utilities in Florida and other states – are “engaged and ready to support the company’s response effort,” the release said.
3:15 p.m.
We’ve got a growing list of event cancellations/postponements updating at this link, while our dining team is following restaurant closures here. Be sure to check our Instagram stories for more closures and cancellations. We’re reposting as many as we can.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport officials said during an afternoon press conference it spent $3 billion on new equipment to keep runways cleared and keep aircraft moving. Airport officials said they would begin treating runways on Saturday afternoon ahead of forecasted freezing rain.
More than 1,500 flights nationwide have been canceled for Saturday, with Atlanta identified as one of the most heavily affected hubs. Delta Air Lines has begun preemptive cancellations for the weekend. Be sure to check with your airline if you’re planning to travel tomorrow night and Sunday for potential cancellations or changes.
1:45 p.m
DeKalb County officials announced Friday afternoon that all DeKalb County buildings would be closed throughout the weekend, and any county-sponsored events have been canceled. During a press conference at the Manuel Maloof Government Building, the county’s roads and drainage, emergency management, and public safety teams shared updates on preparation for Storm Fern.
Peggy Allen, DeKalb’s associate director of roads and drainage, said the county is equipped with 2,500 tons of salt, 10,000 tons of gray sand, and 50 tons of calcium chloride. Almost a year-to-the-date of last year’s winter storm, Allen said her crews will be preparing trouble spots like Snapfinger Road on Friday and Saturday to ensure there will be no issues for emergency and public works crews.
“We have the materials that we need on hand to treat this storm,” Allen said. “Crews have been checking bridges, and are already treating roads. Low points are the spots where the water will pond and freeze once temperatures drop.”
The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners’ meeting will take place on Jan. 27, but it will be virtual, said Chakira Johnson, presiding officer and District 4 commissioner.
County officials also announced during the press conference that warming center locations throughout the county will open at 6 a.m. instead of 7 a.m. Jan. 24, 25, and 26.
Fulton County and the City of Atlanta’s warming centers will also be open throughout the weather incident.
on Jan. 23. (Photo by Stephanie Toone)
“As we continue to monitor the conditions, we will provide updates as more information becomes available to us, including whether any of these closures will extend into next week,” DeKalb CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson said. “I want to be very clear with the community. If you do not need to be on the roads, please stay home.”
1:15 p.m
Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) Director Josh Lamb said during a 1 p.m. press conference that dangerous travel conditions could begin as early as Saturday afternoon as a “significant ice storm” approaches the state. Lamb said this was the first ice storm warning in 12 years. GDOT crews will begin treating roads with brine starting at midnight. There is also growing concern that a half-inch of ice could cause widespread power outages that could last for several days. Lamb said Georgia Power was moving resources across the state, and additional out-of-state crews would be brought in. With temperatures dropping well below freezing Sunday and Monday night and temperatures in the teens on Tuesday morning, significant refreezing is likely. Lamb said 500 National Guard members are on standby to help with clean-up operations.
12:22 p.m.
The National Weather Service issued an ice storm warning for most of metro Atlanta, including the City of Atlanta and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The warning remains in effect through Monday at 10 a.m. Significant icing predicted. Ice accumulations between a quarter of an inch and one inch expected. Travel highly discouraged during the warning period. People are advised to make preparations for power outages and the possibility of hazardous conditions during the Monday morning commute.
11:45 a.m.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said in an interview with Atlanta News First that he would open the city’s joint operations center on Saturday to prepare for the winter storm. He said brine and salt trucks would begin treating city roads on Saturday.
Dickens encouraged residents to stay at home on Saturday night through Sunday morning. He also encouraged people to have winter weather essentials, check on their neighbors, and senior citizens. Dickens said warming centers would be open for the unhoused population. For Sunday, Dickens encouraged local churches to cancel services or to hold virtual services.
11:00 a.m.
MARTA will run a reduced service on Saturday and may suspend operations on Sunday due to the winter weather threat. We’ve got a rundown of the rail service and bus plan at this link.
10:15 a.m.
Gov. Brian Kemp is following the winter storm threat from Davos, Switzerland, where he’s attending the World Economic Forum. Kemp and Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) Director Josh Lamb will provide an update on state preparations at 1 p.m. The update will be livestreamed on GPB.org. Check back here for updates on the press conference.
9:40 a.m.
Emergency officials are urging Georgia residents to prepare for icy conditions and possible power outages, ahead of Winter Storm Fern this weekend. Sleet and freezing rain will begin moving into the state on Saturday, with metro Atlanta feeling the brunt of the storm on Sunday. Temperatures will then drop into the 20s overnight as the storm moves out, leading to possible wind chill values as low as 5 above zero on Monday morning.
The National Weather Service placed North Georgia, including metro Atlanta, under a winter storm watch through Monday at 10 a.m. An ice storm warning has also been issued for several north Georgia counties, which could see up to an inch of ice and widespread power outages. Ice accumulations in metro Atlanta could range from .10 to .75 inches.
On Thursday, Gov. Brian Kemp said Georgia may be facing a “major winter storm” this weekend. He declared a state of emergency and called up the National Guard to stand by for deployment. The state’s emergency operations center is also open.