(The Center Square) – Georgia will be under a state of emergency through Jan. 29 in preparation for a winter storm with a spring-like name.
Winter storm Fern is expected to sweep through the northern part of the Peach State beginning Saturday, bringing more ice than snow, according to the National Weather Service. Gov. Brian Kemp declared the emergency on Thursday.
“As forecasts continue to evolve, Georgians should be prepared for freezing precipitation that causes dangerous conditions and the potential for damage and power loss beginning Saturday,” Kemp said. “I have been working closely with state and local officials to ensure we are prepared for all scenarios. I’m urging all Georgians to take necessary precautions now to ensure their families and pets can stay safe, warm, and fed over the coming days.”
The emergency proclamation allows Kemp to deploy up to 500 Georgia National Guard troops to support preparation and response to the storm. The Georgia Department of Transportation is pretreating roads and bridges with a focus on high-traffic areas, according to the governor’s office.
The most severe icing is expected above I-20 in Atlanta, with 0.25 to 0.75 inches of ice, according to the Peachtree City office of the National Weather Service. Ice can cause power outages and damage trees, the Weather Service said.
The weekend storm could affect Monday commutes and extend into early next week. Temperatures are expected to remain frigid, with lows between 8 and 18 degrees on Sunday and Monday nights, and highs just above freezing at around 35 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
