The National Weather Service (NWS) held a Special Weather Briefing today in reference to the unseasonably cold weather forecast for this weekend into early next week.

• There is High Confidence that we will see Unseasonably Cold temperatures for all of East Alabama and North Georgia by Friday Morning, 12/23.

• Temperatures expected to be 20-35F degrees below normal
• Coldest air in 5-8 years (Jan 2015 / 2018) for our area
• Strong wind gusts 25-35 mph will result in critically cold wind chill values below zero expected for 24+ hours
• A Wind Chill WATCH will likely be converted to an Advisory or Warning today with impacts beginning after midnight, Thursday night through Saturday
• Prolonged period (72 hours) of sub-freezing temperatures expected through Monday

• Quick shot of wintry precipitation mainly northeast Alabama and northwest and far north GA late Thursday night into Friday morning

• Rain is expected to quickly change to snow before ending
• Our area is included in the area that could see rain change to snow with a trace to ½ inch accumulation possible
• Any accumulations expected to be less than 1 inch at this time
• Watch for patchy black ice/flash freeze as colder air moves in throughout our area