OVERVIEW

A significant winter storm is possible this weekend, with potentially lengthy impacts across the region.  There is still a good bit of uncertainty with this system, but multiple models over the past 48 hours have signaled a significant event for this weekend.  The setup would include an arctic air mass arriving across the southern US at the same time as relatively warm, moist Pacific and Gulf air begin overrunning the arctic air mass.  The implications are that heavy rain, freezing rain, sleet, and snow are all possible from early Saturday through Sunday.  Some models have shown some extension of precipitation into Monday.  Snow and ice totals in some models are significant across our region.  Accumulating ice poses a serious threat over .25” – usually when powerlines begin to fail.  In some cases, we’re seeing models output accumulations >1”-2”.  In other cases, we’re seeing models output snow accumulations approaching a foot more for parts of the region.  Further complicating this event is that surface temperatures next week may remain below freezing for several days.  Again, we are >72 hours out from this event, which means the forecast can and will change. At this point, DO NOT focus on a specific snowfall or ice accumulation prediction.  Instead, focus on trends.  With that said, the consistency across models and across their respective runs suggests we should begin preparing for impacts.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS

• Lengthy (multiple days – over a week) and widespread power outages across the region
• Downed trees on houses, overhead utilities and blocking roadways
• Travel disruptions due to accumulations of snow and ice

NEXT STEPS

• Emergency Operations meetings will begin tomorrow afternoon (time TBD).
• The Georgia Tech Police Department Office of Emergency Management will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary.
• Follow the GT Office of Emergency Management on twitter @gtpdalerts.
• For the latest forecast information, please visit the National Weather Service