Honestly, if you've lived in Georgia long enough, you know the drill. We see a snowflake icon on the phone and suddenly the bread and milk aisles look like a scene from an apocalypse movie. But today’s weather Atlanta GA today situation is actually a bit more nuanced than just "is it going to snow?"
It is currently 48°F in the city, and it feels every bit like a damp, gray January Saturday. We’ve got a west wind hanging around at about 7 mph, and humidity is sitting high at 81%. Basically, it’s that bone-chilling dampness that makes you want to stay in your pajamas until Tuesday.
The Saturday Setup: Rain First
Right now, the radar is mostly just showing a messy, cloudy sky. We have a 35% chance of rain during the daylight hours today. Don't expect a washout, but if you’re heading to the Battery or walking the BeltLine, you’re gonna want the shell jacket. We’re looking at a high of 53°F, which is actually spot-on for the average January high in Atlanta (which, fun fact, historically sits at 53.4°F according to NCDC normals).
The "real" story starts after the sun goes down.
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As that cold front pushes through, temperatures are going to crater. We are heading toward a low of 31°F tonight. That’s where things get tricky. The National Weather Service out in Peachtree City is watching a second low-pressure system that’s pulling moisture up while the cold air is crashing down.
That Infamous Snow Cutoff
You've probably heard the term "I-85 corridor" mentioned a thousand times by local meteorologists. There is a reason for that. Today, that line is everything.
While the daytime is all about the rain, tonight’s precipitation chance stays at 35%, but it transitions into snow. Now, before you go buying a sled, the "heaviest" accumulations (if you can call half an inch heavy) are actually looking to stay south and east of the city—think the line from Columbus to Macon.
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- Metro Atlanta: Mostly looking at a rain-to-snow mix.
- North GA Mountains: Seeing some light accumulation above 2,000 feet.
- Central Georgia: Under a Winter Weather Advisory starting at 3 AM Sunday.
If you’re driving late tonight or early tomorrow, watch out for "black ice." Even if the snow doesn't stick, the rain from this morning will freeze on those secondary roads once we hit that 31-degree mark.
Why It’s Not 2017 Again
Some people are bringing up January 2017, when Atlanta hit a record high of 75°F on this very date. We aren't anywhere near that today. We are much closer to the average, but the moisture is the wildcard. The humidity is thick, and the dewpoints are climbing into the mid-30s. That’s just enough "fuel" to make the morning commute on Sunday a little slick if the timing of the cold air lines up with the back end of the moisture shield.
Survival Tips for the Next 24 Hours
Look, it's not a blizzard. But it's Atlanta.
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- Check your outdoor pipes. If you haven't wrapped them yet, today is the day since we're dipping below freezing tonight.
- Download the 511GA app. There are already weekend closures on I-75/85 near the 10th and 14th Street exits. Mix that with a little wintry slush, and the Downtown Connector will be a parking lot.
- Don't trust the "0% chance" on your app. Weather in the South is fickle. That 35% chance of snow tonight is "scattered," meaning your neighbor might see flakes while you just get a cold drizzle.
Basically, enjoy the 53-degree high while it lasts this afternoon. Once that wind shifts to the northwest tonight and picks up to 8 mph, that 31°F low is going to feel significantly colder.
Next Steps for You:
Check the radar again around 10 PM tonight. If the rain hasn't stopped and the temperature is hovering near 34°F, stay off the roads. The bridge decks will freeze long before the surface streets do. Check the GDOT sensors at 511ga.org before you head out Sunday morning for church or brunch to see if any black ice has been reported on the overpasses.