Atlanta Weather | Weekend rain will lead to frigid temperatures

ATLANTA — Severe Weather Team 2 meteorologist David Chandley is tracking a cold front that could bring bitter cold wind chills to metro Atlanta and a few more flurries to north Georgia.

Temperatures in the metro area dipped into the 20s and teens on Friday morning, but felt more like the single digits with the wind chill. Some mountain counties saw wind chills as low as zero Friday morning.

The average high for Jan. 3 is 52 degrees, but temperatures struggled to climb above freezing.

Georgia Department of Transportation crews chased down slick spots on Friday and are now preparing for more potential ice on Sunday.

High winds knocked down several trees, including at the home of Alan Lipis on Lavista Road in DeKalb County.

"We went to bed last night with no power, just some candles burning nice and warm under the covers and got up this morning and it was freezing cold," Lipis told Channel 2's Erica Byfield.

"Then all of a sudden we heard a huge crash and the house shook," he said.

Lipis said he thinks the the tree is at least 100 years old and he's thankful it missed his home.

The Ranney family in Roswell wasn't so lucky.

"Nobody wants to wake up in the morning and see a tree on your house," Holly Ranney told Channel 2's Mike Petchenik.

The Ranney family is known for their nonprofit organization that does home renovations for children with long-term illness.

"Luckily it didn't pierce through the roof or anything but it definitely dented in the roof so we'll probably have to get that fixed."

Ranney said her husband would start the work over the weekend, but he may have rain to deal with.

"We'll start Saturday with some sunshine and the clouds arrive in the afternoon, and that will temper the temperature and keep us in the 30s and 40s," Chandley said.

Sunday a stronger arctic front will bring some scattered showers turning into a brief wintry mix late Sunday evening as the front and cold weather moves through north Georgia, according to Chandley.

"Then it's just plain cold on Monday morning and Monday afternoon," Chandley said.  "We're going to have an extended period of below freezing temperatures."

Chandley projected Tuesday's low to be 9 degrees, potentially the lowest recorded temperature in a decade.

Local school districts are keeping an eye on the temperatures. Students in most metro school districts return from winter break on Tuesday.

Cobb County Schools spokesman Jay Dillion said bus drivers will come in an hour early Tuesday to determine if there are any problems.

Freezing temperatures make it harder to start the diesel engines and it sucks the life out of the batteries.

Dillon told Channel 2's Jeff Dore the school district won't delay opening because of the cold, only if it is a safety threat.

Stay updated on the changing winter weather by watching Channel 2 Action News throughout the weekend. Meteorologists Karen Minton and David Chandley will work to pinpoint the arrival of any wintry precipitation.

You can also track conditions in your area with the free Severe Weather Team 2 iPhone/Android app and the free Severe Weather Team 2 iPad app.

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