If you were hoping for a repeat of those weirdly warm 70-degree days we had last week, honestly, I’ve got some bad news. Atlanta’s weather is doing that thing again where it flips the script in less than twenty-four hours. We are looking at a classic Georgia winter weekend: messy, confusing, and cold enough to make you regret leaving the house without three layers of fleece.
Saturday: The Deceptive Calm Before the Flurries
Saturday, January 17, 2026, is going to start out looking fairly innocent. We are expecting a high of around 51°F. That sounds decent on paper, right? But don't let the morning sun fool you into planning a long hike at Stone Mountain. By the time the sun starts to dip, everything changes.
A secondary cold front is sliding down from the Great Lakes, and it’s bringing some drama with it. During the day, it'll be mostly sunny, but as we hit the evening hours, the temperature is going to crater. We’re talking about a low of 28°F overnight.
The Snow Question
I know what everyone is asking: is it going to snow? Everyone in Atlanta gets a little twitchy when the "S-word" starts floating around the newsroom. Here is the deal. The National Weather Service is seeing a roughly 25% chance of snow showers late Saturday night into early Sunday morning.
💡 You might also like: Wire brush for cleaning: What most people get wrong about choosing the right bristles
Before you run to Kroger for milk and bread, take a breath. This isn’t 2014’s "Snowpocalypse." Most of the actual accumulation is going to stay up in the North Georgia mountains—think Blue Ridge and Blairsville—where they might see a dusting to half an inch. In the metro area? We’re mostly looking at stray flurries or a light wintry mix that probably won't stick to the roads because the ground is still too warm from last week.
Sunday: The Real Arctic Punch
If Saturday is the setup, Sunday, January 18, is the punchline. It’s going to be brutally cold. We are looking at a projected high of only 36°F. When you factor in those northwest winds blowing at about 11 mph, it’s basically going to feel like a walk-in freezer all day long.
The sky will be clear and sunny, which is the ultimate Georgia weather prank. It looks beautiful through a window, but the second you step outside, the wind hits your face and you realize the "feels-like" temperature is hovering in the mid-20s.
📖 Related: Images of Thanksgiving Holiday: What Most People Get Wrong
- Morning low: 26°F
- Winds: 10-15 mph with higher gusts
- Sky: Clear but deceptive
Because of this sustained cold, the City of Atlanta has already been prepping. They’ve activated warming centers at spots like the Central Park Recreation Center and Selena S. Butler Park. If you know anyone who needs a warm place to stay, those doors are generally open through Saturday morning and may be extended if this front lingers as expected.
Fire Risks and Dry Air
Here is something most people forget about during an "arctic blast." It’s not just about the cold; it's about how bone-dry the air gets. The relative humidity is expected to drop below 25% this weekend.
Why does that matter? Well, for one, your skin is going to feel like sandpaper. But more importantly, the National Weather Service often issues Fire Danger Statements during these setups. Dry air plus gusty winds plus dead winter brush is a recipe for brush fires. If you were thinking about clearing out some yard debris with a burn pile this weekend, just don't. It’s a bad idea.
👉 See also: Why Everyone Is Still Obsessing Over Maybelline SuperStay Skin Tint
Survival Tips for the Weekend
You've probably lived through a dozen of these "cold snaps," but this one is particularly sharp because of how fast the temperature is dropping.
- Drip those faucets. Since we are hitting 26°F and 28°F on consecutive nights, the "freeze-thaw" cycle can put a lot of pressure on older pipes in neighborhoods like Virginia-Highland or Cabbagetown. Just a slow drip on the furthest faucet from your water main helps.
- Pet safety. If it's too cold for you to stand outside in a light jacket for ten minutes, it's too cold for your dog. Bring them in.
- Check your tires. Cold air makes tire pressure drop. If your "low air" light comes on Sunday morning, it’s likely just the physics of the arctic air, not a nail in your tire.
- The Layering Rule. If you are heading to a Hawks game or just grabbing coffee, go with a base layer, an insulating middle layer (fleece), and a windbreaker. The wind is the real enemy this weekend, not the actual temperature.
The good news? This isn't a permanent ice age. By the middle of next week, we should see things start to moderate back toward the 50s. But for this specific weekend in Atlanta, it's all about staying inside, keeping the heat on, and maybe keeping an eye out for a few stray flakes on Saturday night just for the novelty of it.
Actionable Next Steps:
Check your outdoor spigots today and make sure any garden hoses are disconnected before Friday night. Once the temperature drops Friday evening, the water inside those hoses can freeze and expand back into your interior pipes, causing a burst regardless of whether you’re dripping the indoor sinks.