ATLANTA (AP) — Forecasters say temperatures will plummet to the teens and 20s across north Georgia Monday night as extremely cold air pushes into the state.
The National Weather Service in Peachtree City has also issued a wind advisory through 7 p.m. Monday. Winds from 15-25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph, are expected in central and north Georgia.
Authorities say the low temperature could fall to around 16 degrees in Blairsville and other communities in the north Georgia mountains.
The weather service says temperatures in Atlanta could dip to around 22 degrees Monday night and 20 degrees Tuesday night before warmer weather begins to raise temperatures around mid-week.
Braving winter weather
Being prepared
Check on elderly and disabled people living alone. Make sure they are prepared for winter conditions.
Stock up on non-alcoholic beverages like tea, coffee, hot chocolate and soup.
Maintain good nutrition and get plenty of rest.
Prepare your home
Have your furnace and wall heaters checked by a professional for safety.
Check all space heaters and keep them away from walls, curtains, and furniture.
If you have a gas heater or any gas appliances, invest in a carbon monoxide detector. (Carbon monoxide kills about 300 people in the U.S. every year.)
Replace the batteries in all of your smoke detectors and test the smoke alarms to make sure they work.
Check the batteries in your NOAA Weather Radio.
When using heat from a fireplace, wood stove, space heater or other apparatus, use fire safeguards and ventilate properly.
Close off unused rooms.
Stuff towels or rags in cracks under doors.
Cover windows at night.
Cover exposed plumbing fixtures and pipes or leave dripping when temperatures drop below freezing.
Prepare a survival kit with supplies needed to survive for a minimum of three days, including bottled water, nonperishable foods for family and pets, sleeping bags or bedding, extra clothes, medicine, flashlights, a battery-powered NOAA Weather Radio, extra batteries, a first aid kit, and a manual can opener. For a complete list of item, click here.
Prepare your vehicle
Give your vehicle a maintenance check for tires, brakes, battery, heating and defrosting system and windshield wipers.
Keep your washer fluid full of a nonfreezing solution.
Change the antifreeze, if needed, to protect the engine and radiator from freezing in cold temperatures.
Keep your gas tank near full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines.
Pack and carry a winter storm survival kit, including: blankets or sleeping bags; additional warm clothing; a flashlight with extra batteries; first-aid kit; knife; high-calorie, non-perishable food such as candy bars; small can and water-proof matches to melt snow for drinking; bag of sand or cat litter; shovel; windshield scraper and brush; booster cables
If you must drive ...
Plan your travel.
Check the weather before leaving.
Know numbers to call and Web sites to check for road conditions.
Let someone know your timetable and routes.
Watch out for your pets
Make sure pets have plenty of food, water and shelter.
Move animals to sheltered areas when possible.
Haul extra feed to nearby feeding areas.
Have water available; many animals can die from dehydration in winter storms.
Sources: NOAA; Georgia Emergency Management Agency.
