Augusta, GA
WATCH LIVE: How Augusta is preparing for icy winter blast
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Preparations are underway in Augusta for winter weather that’s expected to begin Friday morning.
Augusta Fire/EMA says they are working closely with county departments and preparing for the weather forecast to impact North and Central Georgia from 7 a.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday.
“The system is expected to bring a mix of rain, freezing rain, sleet, and snow, beginning Friday morning and continuing through the evening, with hazardous travel and power outages likely,” the city said in a statement.
On Thursday, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp declared a statewide State of Emergency, effective immediately through Tuesday, Jan. 14.
“The Georgia Department of Transportation, along with the Department of Public Safety, began treating roads early this morning to prepare for the approaching winter storm, and I’m asking all Georgians to help them do their jobs by limiting travel as much as possible in the coming days,” said Kemp. “Hazardous conditions, including ice and snow, can develop quickly and make travel very dangerous. Plan ahead and stay tuned to updates from state and local officials to ensure you and your loved ones remain safe while our first responders continue to work tirelessly throughout this weather event.”
MORE FROM NEWS 12
CSRA winter weather: A survival guide
- What can renters do if pipes burst due to winter weather?
- Don’t get burned by cold-weather home repair scams
- Local fire crews warn of heating hazards in cold weather
- How to spot warning signs of frostbite, hypothermia
- Protecting your most precious plants from winter’s wrath
- Stay inside if you can during cold snap, experts say
- Winter weather myths debunked to keep you safe
- If your pipes freeze or break, follow this advice from experts
- How to get help with your heating bill in the CSRA
- What to know if you’ll be driving in subfreezing weather
- How to protect your heating system during freezing temperatures
- How to stay warm on a budget and beat the cold weather
- Trouble from burst pipes can linger well beyond a freeze
- Keep your pipes from bursting in freezing weather
- How to prepare your home for major freeze
Ice accumulation is anticipated north of I-20, creating dangerous road conditions and the potential for widespread power disruptions. Freezing temperatures also increase the risk of hypothermia and frostbite for those exposed to the cold, according to Augusta officials.
The Georgia Department of Transportation began active brine operations overnight which continued Thursday morning across metro Atlanta and north Georgia. They say the application of brine will continue throughout Thursday in areas expected to be the most impacted by snow accumulation, sleet and freezing rain.
Crews are working 12-hour shifts and are prioritizing treating interstates, state routes, bridges and overpasses both north and south of and along I-20, according to the department.
Snowplow and removal crews and additional equipment will arrive Thursday and will respond in support of metro Atlanta crews when snow begins to fall, and active removal begins
City officials say the Emergency Operations Center is at Level 3 monitoring, ensuring all city departments are ready to respond.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting shelter checks, and the Marshal’s Office is on standby to assist as needed, according to officials. Augusta Utilities is protecting critical systems, issuing notices to help residents safeguard pipes, and preparing generators as well.
Augusta Engineering is pre-treating roads and preparing snow removal equipment, while Parks and Recreation is securing outdoor facilities and readying shelters for potential use.
City officials encourage you to avoid unnecessary travel and drive cautiously if travel is essential.
They also ask that you prepare homes by insulating pipes, securing outdoor items and assembling emergency kits. Check on vulnerable neighbors, and use generators safely to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning as well.
Shelters are available for those in need, including the Salvation Army Center of Hope, Garden City Rescue Mission and Augusta Rescue Mission.
At this time, officials say no ID checks will be required for shelter access.
With the forecast of potential ice accumulation across the region, there is a possibility for fallen trees and downed power lines. If you come across either, the Georgia Department of Transportation asks that you do not cross them and report them to your local authorities or 911.
They say it’s best to turn around and take an alternative route and to not try to clear tree limbs or other debris from roads as live power lines might be tangled in debris and pose a deadly hazard.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta’S Priciest Homes Hit The Market
Augusta’s top five luxury listings on Realtor.com, starting at $985, 000.
An Augusta biomanufacturer will start making ammunition in the global fight against malaria.
Manus last week broke ground at its local plant on Lovers Lane on a production facility to produce artemisinin. The chemical is a key starting component in drug treatments to treat the deadly mosquito-borne illness. Malaria killed more than 600,000 people worldwide in 2024, according to the World Health Organization
“This groundbreaking reflects a shift from dependence to capability,” said Ajikumar Parayil, Manus’ founder and CEO. “For decades, the U.S. has relied heavily on overseas supply chains for the building blocks of essential medicines. What we’re establishing in Augusta is a new model – one that restores control, strengthens resilience, and proves that advanced biomanufacturing can be deployed at scale, here at home.”
About 80% of key ingredients for essential U.S. medicines are made or sourced overseas, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
That has led companies such as Manus to pursue biomanufacturing production models capable of making medical compounds domestically, efficiently and on a large scale.
Earlier in 2026, Manus won federal funding to expand production to make shikimic acid, a key compound in the antiviral medication oseltamivir, better known by its brand name Tamiflu.
On April 30, Manus announced a partnership with the University of Georgia to start a structured biomanufacturing apprenticeship program in Augusta. With a UGA “academic blueprint,” according to Manus, apprentices would receive extensive training on live production equipment to produce more experienced professionals for bio-industrial manufacturers nationwide.
Manus reopened Augusta’s old NutraSweet plant in 2019. In 2021, it introduced NutraSweet Natural, a zero-calorie stevia sweetener made using a smaller environmental footprint.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Brent McMillian is being appointed as the new director of athletics at Augusta University, President Russell Keen announced Monday.
McMillian will begin the role on June 8, 2026.
According to AU, McMillian brings 13 years of athletics experience to the position. He previously served as Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Engagement and Revenue Generation at Lipscomb University at Nashville.
“His vision aligns seamlessly with our goals for Jaguar Athletics: to champion student-athlete wellbeing, strengthen our competitive success, deepen community engagement, and build a vibrant, spirited campus culture,” Keen said. “His experience, combined with his personal connection to Augusta University, positions him to hit the ground running in a meaningful way.”
McMillian is a graduate of Greenbrier High School and attended Augusta University before completing his degree at the University of Tennessee.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Local restaurants hosted brunches for Mother’s Day, allowing neighbors to celebrate the day with the special women in their lives.
The Brunch House of Augusta on Greene Street hosted a brunch. The restaurant served berry pancakes and French toast, waffles, ham and cheese breakfast sliders and more breakfast foods.
One of the owners said the holidays are a great time for them to make connections with the community.
“We just had a group here come here that’s been coming here every year Mother’s Day for three years, every year basically since we’ve been open, they come in every year for Mother’s Day. We have people from out of town come and travel and visit us, so it’s definitely building that connection,” said Ashley Brown, co-owner of The Brunch House of Augusta.
Brown said they will be offering some specials for the upcoming Juneteenth holiday next month.
The Frog and the Hen also hosted a Mother’s Day brunch. The restaurant had about 350 people come in as of around 3 p.m.
They served foods like fried chicken, cheddar biscuits, French toast casserole and more.
The general manager said she enjoys seeing families come in for holidays like Mother’s Day.
“I feel like these are all my children here, so I feel like this day just in general, like I get to be the mother here, and so this is like I’m mother hen, so I get to take care of all this. I love supporting all the people as well and just being able to get the best food possible, the best chicken everywhere,” said Sheridan Roberts, general manager of Frog and the Hen.
Roberts said they often have to stop making reservations a few weeks ahead of the holiday due to the amount they receive.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
-
Health48 seconds agoAlzheimer’s drugs slammed as ‘ineffective’ in major review, but critics push back
-
Sports7 minutes agoFlorida judge rules prosecutors can access Tiger Woods’ prescription drug history after DUI arrest: report
-
Technology13 minutes agoAI robot changes your tires and balances them too
-
Business19 minutes agoCalifornia consumers accuse popular Italian food brand of tomato fraud
-
Entertainment25 minutes ago
Is ‘Blue Dot Fever’ a real problem for the concert industry?
-
Lifestyle31 minutes agoWhat the postcards leave out: 5 moments in history that still echo along Route 66
-
Politics37 minutes agoCommentary: Those $1,000 Trump accounts don’t match the hype
-
Science43 minutes ago
Contributor: Fuel drug development, not Big Pharma’s profits
