(The Center Square) – For the second week in a row, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has declared a state of emergency as extremely cold temperatures and possibly snow are expected to move into the state early Saturday morning.
The northeast corner of the state could see up to 5 inches of snow, while a dusting or up to 2 inches could fall in northwest Georgia to as far south as Macon, according to the National Weather Service.
“Along with our state partners, we have been monitoring this new winter storm well ahead of its arrival and preparing for whatever it may bring,” Kemp said. “While the weather event will mostly impact north and east Georgia, extending all the way to the coast, I’ve declared a statewide State of Emergency so we can more easily move resources to the areas expecting impact and stage those assets ahead of the storm.”
Last weekend, Georgia was hit by an ice storm that caused some power outages and made some roads treacherous. This weekend’s main concern is the cold weather, officials said. Wind chills could be a low as minus-15 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
A winter storm warning was extended into metro Atlanta on Friday morning while some parts of the state remained under a winter weather advisory.
“As this winter weather moves into Georgia, we encourage residents to stay home if possible before and during the storm,” said Josh Lamb, director of Georgia’s Emergency Management Agency and Homeland Security.