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.
MARTA service updates • Restaurant closures
Storm-related cancellations • Georgia Power Outage Map
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10:15 p.m.
Gov. Brian Kemp said he submitted a request for federal disaster relief from FEMA, which was approved by President Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, icy conditions in North Georgia are moving toward metro Atlanta has the temperature drops. At 10 p.m., the temperature in Atlanta was 36F with rain already falling. We’re expected to hit the freezing mark after midnight as freezing rain and sleet take over.
We’ll continue our coverage on Sunday morning with updates on weather conditions and power outages.
8:30 p.m.
MARTA rail service will begin at 6 a.m. on Sunday with trains arriving every 20 minutes, according to an evening update from the transit agency. All bus routes are suspended, with the exception of lifeline routes 6, 8, 19, 40, 107, 110, 111, 123, 185, and 196 to provide direct service to major medical facilities and emergency rooms. MARTA Mobility service will operate within three-quarters of a mile of MARTA rail stations. Visit itsmarta.com for the latest updates.
Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (ATL) announced it will suspend all Xpress transit services and Xpress Customer Service for Monday, according to a media release. Xpress will only resume service once conditions are confirmed to be clear and safe for travel. Customers are encouraged to visit xpressga.com for updates.
7:25 p.m.
With light rain already falling across metro Atlanta, WSB chief meteorologist Brad Nitz said the area will experience widespread showers by 9 p.m., with temperatures in the high 30s. As temperatures fall overnight, Nitz said icy conditions will begin to impact Atlanta starting around midnight. Ice will continue accumulating Sunday morning until around noon, when a brief warmup will bring showers and possibly thunderstorms. Anything that doesn’t evaporate will refreeze overnight, Sunday into Monday.
5:25 p.m.
The Associated Press reports that more than 12,000 flights were canceled Saturday and Sunday across the U.S., according to the flight tracking website FlightAware. If you’re trying to fly out of ATL tonight or tomorrow, make sure to check with your airline and the conditions at Hartsfield-Jackson.
The National Weather Service published a graphic on social media indicating that ice will likely have a “major” impact on Atlanta between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sunday and from 1 to 7 a.m. Monday.
5 p.m.
Atlanta Public Schools has joined Fulton, DeKalb, and Decatur Schools in deciding to close on Monday.
The Georgia National Guard has been activated for the ice storm, according to a report form WSB. They are staging and will be deployed to areas in Northeast Georgia as needed.
“After consulting with Major General Wilson and our readiness team, I’m activating 120 Georgia Guard members for deployment to Northeast Georgia today. These Guardsmen will be organized into strike teams and further strengthen our response in the hardest hit areas as we do everything possible to keep Georgians safe. Please join Marty, the girls, and me in keeping them in our prayers,” Kemp said.
3:30 p.m.
WSB reports that icing has begun in far north Georgia, with freezing rain spreading into the metro area Saturday night. While temperatures are in the mid-40s now, they will dip below freezing overnight.
Gov. Brian Kemp closed state offices on Monday and instructed employees to work from home.
The City of Atlanta has also begun treating city roadways with 23,000 tons of salt and 3,300 gallons of brine available, an ATLDOT spokesperson told WSB.
12:45 p.m.
The National Weather Service issued a cold weather advisory for metro Atlanta, from 4-10 a.m. on Monday morning. Post-storm temperatures will hover in the 20s on Monday morning, with wind chill values between 0 and 15 above zero. Highs Monday will be around 35 degrees.
11:30 a.m.
State officials are urging North Georgia residents to be at home by 6 p.m. this evening as icy weather moves in. Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Director Josh Lamb said residents should be prepared to stay where they are for the next 48 hours.
Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Russell McMurry called the winter storm an “all-hands effort” with 1,800 employees working 12-hour shifts. Pre-treatment of the interstates is already underway along I-20, I-85, I-75, and other state routes. McMurry said 18,000 miles of roadway must be treated, and crews are on schedule to finish round one today.
McMurry said 300 plow trucks will also be spreading a salt aggregate starting this evening. “We will do what we can on state routes and interstates, but it will be a challenge,” he said. “Traffic volume is down 30 to 40 percent today, which will help our treatment efforts.”
Lamb said GEMA has been in constant contact with Georgia Power and Georgia EMC about potential power outages. He said 10,000 personnel, including out-of-state crews, are being stationed around North Georgia to deal with potential outages.
Georgia Department of Public Safety Commissioner Col. William Hitchens said Georgia State Patrol troopers would be positioned along interstates this evening to respond to situations.
State meteorologist Will Langston said an additional surge of cold air from Monday night through the week will mean temperatures in the low to mid-teens with even lower wind chills.
11:05 a.m.
Northlake Mall has announced it will adjust its hours for Saturday, Jan. 24, due to the projected inclement weather. The mall will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“We will post more updates for Sunday and Monday as they arise. Please be safe,” read a statement on Northlake Mall’s Facebook page.
DeKalb County has not yet announced whether its government buildings will be closed Monday, Jan. 26. However, the City of Tucker’s city offices will be closed for residents and employees on Jan. 26, according to a note posted at the city’s government building.
10:45 a.m.
From the National Weather Service on expected ice accumulations.
10:15 a.m.
The City of Atlanta will open warming centers starting tonight at 8 p.m., and they will be continuously open through Wednesday, Jan. 28, at 11 a.m.
• Central Park Recreation Center at 400 Merritts Ave. NE, Atlanta 30308.
• Selena S. Butler Park and Recreation Center at 98 William Holmes Borders Dr. NE, Atlanta, GA 30312. (Women and Children Only)
• Old Adamsville Recreation Center at 3404 Delmar Ln NW, Atlanta, GA 30331.
To assist homeowners who may lose power and stranded motorists, Georgia State Parks will open warming stations for public use beginning at noon today. ParkPass fees will be waived for those using these group shelter warming stations. A live interactive map showing state park warming shelter sites will be available at gastateparks.org/Alerts.
9:45 a.m.
The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) will close the I-85, I-75 South Metro and the I-75 Northwest Corridor (NWC) express lanes beginning midday on Saturday, Jan. 24. According to a press release, GDOT will reopen the lanes once conditions improve.
- I-75 NWC express lanes will close in both directions at 11 a.m. (from Akers Mill Road to Hickory Grove Road and along I-575 from I-75 to Sixes Road)
- I-75 South Metro express lanes will close in both directions at noon (from State Route 155 to State Route 138)
- I-85 express lanes will close in both directions at noon (Chamblee Tucker Road to Old Peachtree Road, as well as extension express lanes extending to Hamilton Mill Road).
9:05 a.m
DeKalb County has activated 24-hour warming centers beginning 6 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 24 through Monday, Jan. 26. Anyone in need of a warm, safe place is encouraged to seek shelter immediately or share this information. The open facilities include:
- Exchange Park Intergenerational Center – Decatur
- Frontline Response International – Atlanta
- St. Vincent de Paul – Chamblee
- Tobie Grant Recreation Center – Scottdale – Transportation pickups will begin Sunday morning, Jan.24, starting at 7:00 a.m. All routes originate from Frontline Response Headquarters at 2585 Gresham Rd SE, Atlanta. For transportation and coordination, call 404-334-3610.
Additional community warming centers include New Life Community Alliance, 3592 Flat Shoals Road in Decatur, which will be open nightly from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., and Tucker First United Methodist Church Cold Weather Refuge on Main Street, from Jan. 24-27.
For full details, visit the DeKalb County weather website.
8:40 a.m.
We’re kicking off our Saturday coverage of the winter storm with a report from our media partner WSB-TV:
A Winter Storm Watch has been upgraded to a Winter Weather Advisory for far southern counties, while the rest of north and central Georgia remains under an Ice Storm Warning.
The most widespread and potentially destructive ice impacts are expected on the northeast side of the metro Atlanta area, where conditions will be most favorable for prolonged icing.
Most of Saturday is expected to remain dry, but conditions will begin to deteriorate later this afternoon and into the evening as a winter mix develops. The most significant impacts are expected overnight into early Sunday morning, when temperatures will be cold enough for ice toaccumulate on roads, bridges, trees, and power lines.
Some areas may see a transition to rain late Sunday morning into Sunday afternoon, which could help limit additional icing. However, forecasters caution that refreezing is likely Sunday night as much colder air moves back into the region, potentially creating black ice and renewed travel hazards.
Officials urge residents to limit travel, prepare for possible power outages, and closely monitor weather updates as conditions continue to evolve.
On Friday, multiple metro Atlanta school systems announced the cancellation of in-person classes for Monday, including DeKalb County, Fulton County, and Decatur City Schools. Rough Draft plans to continue tracking school closures throughout the weekend.
Georgia Power also announced on Friday that it will suspend service disconnections in advance of this weekend’s storm. The suspension of services will extend until Thursday, Jan. 29.
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.
