Augusta, GA

Winter Storm Georgia. Storm watch expands to Athens, more N. GA counties

Published

1 month ago

January 22, 2026

Winter Storm Georgia. Storm watch expands to Athens, more N. GA counties

Some very cold weather is moving further south in what the Weather Channel is calling Winter Storm Fern. While the exact severity of the storm is in flux, more of Georgia has been placed under a winter storm watch by the National Weather Service.

Where is the winter storm watch Georgia?

The first watch is largely in Georgia’s northern-most area covering cities like Blue Ridge, Cumming, Dahlonega, Ellijay, Fort Oglethorpe, Hiawassee, and Rome. The expanded watch now covers Athens, Crawford, Comer, Washington, Winder, Watkinsville, and Commerce.

Where is the winter storm watch in Georgia?

Both of the winter storm watches will be in effect from late Friday night through Monday morning.

When is it going to snow in Georgia?

In the areas under a winter storm watch, the NWS says heavy mixed precipitation is possible with total snow and sleet accumulations of an inch or less and ice accumulations greater than one quarter inch.

Here’s what the forecast looks like in other areas:

Atlanta: Freezing rain is late Saturday and snow showers are late Sunday.
Augusta: Rain and sleet possible Saturday, then freezing rain mixed possibly mixed with sleet 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. followed by more freezing rain through Sunday.
Savannah: Little winter weather is predicted here. There’s a 30-40% chance of rain Saturday and 60-80% chance Sunday. Temperatures will drop down to about 41 degrees.

What is a winter storm watch?

A winter storm watch is issued when significant winter weather is possible, but not imminent, according to Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security. A watch is typically issued 12 to 48 hours before the possibility of winter weather.

What is the difference between a winter storm watch and a winter storm warning?

A winter storm warning is issued when a significant winter storm is more imminent and is a dangerous threat to life and property. These warnings are typically issued up to 36 hours before an event that has at least an 80% chance of significant winter precipitation.

Another term worth knowing is ‘winter weather advisory,’ which indicates that winter weather is imminent and may cause inconveniences, but isn’t extreme enough to warrant a ‘warning.’

Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for USA Today. Find him on Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@gannett.com.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta Boxing Club faces financial uncertainty after nonprofit funding cuts

Published

3 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Augusta Boxing Club faces financial uncertainty after nonprofit funding cuts

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Boxing Club is facing financial uncertainty after Richmond County’s 2026 budget left no room to fund nonprofit organizations.

The county’s decision removes one of the club’s main financial supporters, leaving the historic organization without a key source of funding.

The Augusta Boxing Club is one of the nation’s longest-running amateur boxing clubs and has served at-risk youth in the Augusta area.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta picks new planning and development director

Published

15 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Augusta picks new planning and development director

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta-Richmond County has selected a new planning and development director nearly a year after the previous director resigned.

Commissioners voted to hire Adleasia J. Cameron, who goes by Lisa, after an executive session Tuesday.

Cameron was one of two finalists for the position, along with Ryan A. Bland.

The position has been vacant since May 30, when Carla Delaney resigned as planning and development director.

“Augusta has been home to me for many years, from my time as a middle and high school student to earning my graduate degree. It has truly been a privilege to work here and contribute to the community’s growth, sustainability, and development,” Delaney wrote in her letter of resignation.

Cameron is expected to start within the next 30 days.

Her salary will be $125,000, with a moving allowance of up to $10,000 reimbursed based on receipts.

Other commission action

Commissioners also received an update that a veterans cemetery will break ground at the end of the year.

A motion passed authorizing the Marshal’s Office to purchase two vehicles at a cost of more than $115,000.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta family flees Middle East as U.S. launches Operation Epic Fury

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Augusta family flees Middle East as U.S. launches Operation Epic Fury

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – An Augusta couple returned home from Israel and Egypt just as the U.S. and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury Saturday.

This happened hours before the State Department issued an urgent warning urging Americans in 14 Middle Eastern countries to “depart now” due to “serious safety risks.”

Diego and Maile Sprague had been staying with a host family in Jerusalem, south of the West Bank. The host family provides self-defense training to women and children living in the West Bank.

“We moved to Jerusalem just south of the West Bank and stayed with a host family that provides self-defense training to women and children that live on the West Bank,” Maile Sprague said. “Sometimes those places aren’t the safest.”

Couple tours Egypt as operation launches

The Spragues left their host family Friday morning to tour Egypt. By Saturday morning, the U.S. and Israel had rolled out Operation Epic Fury.

The couple said their host family was forced to flee their home after two nearby Arab-developed areas were attacked.

“We got word he and his wife had to leave their home because where they live there are two Arab developed areas… and they were attacked, so he and his wife had to flee their home,” Diego Sprague said.

Maile Sprague said the host family is now sheltering with neighbors.

“They are staying in their bomb shelter because there has been constant red alerts, so they’re sharing their bomb shelter with their neighbors,” she said.

Tourism industry shuts down in Egypt

While in Egypt, the Spragues said they witnessed the country’s tourism industry — its largest — coming to a halt.

“Everything that has to do with the tourism industry was closing down. Tourists were trying to leave, and all the buses were being routed to the border for Israel to pick people up from,” Maile Sprague said.

The couple had planned to return to their host family in Israel but instead made the decision to return home to Augusta. They landed in Atlanta hours before the State Department issued its “depart now” warning Monday.

The Spragues said they are safe. Their host family remains in a bomb shelter.

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