— Latrice Williams, Savannah Morning News

See the projections for Athens, Augusta, Savannah and much of the state as a serious winter weather event awaits.

Read the full story below.

Winter storm update today. Saturday’s GA local weather forecasts

The timeline has shifted slightly, but a heavy snow event is expected. The heaviest snow is now expected in the afternoon in northeast Georgia.

Some bands have moved across north Georgia, hitting cities such as Gainesville and Lawrenceville. The heavy stuff is expected to develop as the morning advances, especially northeastern portions of the state.

In Athens, Accuweather forecasts snow to begin around 10 a.m. and remain steady until around 4 p.m., with about 1 to 2 inches of snow.

Much of the state is under a Winter Weather Warning that lasts until 1 a.m., and the cold will come behind it.

See the radar below.

7:40 a.m. | Wind chill in Georgia. How cold will it get?

The National Weather Service warns of incredibly cold temperatures as the storm moves out late Saturday. Some areas could be as low as -10 degrees. “Sunday morning will feel like we are living in Michigan, not Georgia,” the NWS advises.

Winter storm radar

Friday night update on Georgia basketball game

Georgia basketball says a 1 p.m. game Saturday against Texas A&M will go on despite predicted 3-5 inches of snow around Athens. The team Friday night said to consider poor driving conditions and staying home is the best option.

Friday 8:15 p.m. | Brian Kemp encourages Georgians to stay off roads

“We’re encouraging those in north and east Georgia to stay off the roads tomorrow whenever possible. While ice is less of a concern this weekend, snow and wind can still cause low visibility and dangerous roads,” Kemp said in a post on X.

4:45 p.m. | National Weather Service provides latest snow total updates

2:30 p.m. | Gov. Brian Kemp issues State of Emergency

The National Weather Service issued a winter weather warning for Coastal Bryan, Chatham, Liberty and McIntosh County’s, among other areas. The warning is in effect from noon Saturday to 7 a.m. Sunday.

“While Mother Nature may not be giving us a break with these back-to-back storms, the good news is we don’t take any days off when it comes to keeping Georgia communities prepared and safe,” said Kemp in a press release. “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. 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.”

— Latrice Williams, Savannah Morning News

2:15 p.m. | How to prepare your house for winter storm

Georgia Power recommends keeping your thermostat to 68 degrees at most during the winter. In general, the colder it is outside plus the warmer you’re trying to keep it inside equals higher energy bills and more stress to your heating/cooling system.

During the extreme cold and/or winter storms, if you’re tempted to lower your thermostat for efficiency, just keep in mind that your home should be kept to at least 55 degrees inside to prevent pipes from freezing. Also, if there’s a power outage, you’ll want to be sure your home is sufficiently warm in advance.

Read full story below.

— Miguel Legoas, USA Today Deep South Connect

Where to set your thermostat during winter storm

1:45 p.m. | NWS explains how to measure snow

12:45 p.m. | National Weather Service extends warning

11:30 a.m. | How much snow will Georgia get?

Heavier snow is being predicted in the northeast corner of the state, with up to 6 inches expected in areas.

The National Weather Service’s probabilistic snowfall map has predicted a heavy round of snowfall for parts of east Georgia, especially the northeast. But areas as far south as the Georgia coast could also see some snow.

Higher elevations and northeast Georgia appear most likely to see accumulating snow.

• Toccoa: 6 inches expected
• Blairsville: 4 inches
• Athens: 3 inches

See more totals expected around the state by clicking the button below.

Winter Storm in Savannah? What to expect for snow

It’s a Christmas miracle, 37 days later! Yet another Arctic surge heads toward the Southeast this weekend. This time, it will likely bring snow to Savannah Saturday afternoon.

Savannahians may remember a similar snowfall event late last January, full of scarfed snowmen and ice lining windshields and streets. But that hard-packed snow was technically 99% sleet, according to Savannah-based geopolitical and economics research and modeling firm Enki Research. When snow fell, the atmosphere warmed up the flakes into water, refrozen into icier pellets.

But this year, Savannahians can expect fluffy flakes, each with its own distinct shape.

Full story below.

— Jillian Magtoto, Savannah Morning News

Will it snow in Savannah?

What is a bomb cyclone? When it will hit Georgia

Georgia has another mass of winter weather coming in the next couple of days, just a week after the last one. But this one is different, in no small part because it looks like it could reach “bomb cyclone” status. Here’s what we know:

The National Weather Service says bomb cyclone, also known as “bombogenesis,” describes a midlatitude (the latitudes between the tropics and polar regions) cyclone that rapidly intensifies over a 24 hour period. It can happen when a cold air mass collides with a warm air mass.

Full story below.

— Miguel Legoas, USA Today Deep South Connect

What the heck is a bomb cyclone?