NOTE: This weather story is from January, 2017

ATLANTA — PLEASE NOTE: This story is from Jan. 6, 2017. CLICK HERE for the LATEST forecast from Severe Weather Team 2.

Severe Weather Team 2 says ice accumulation is possible Friday and Saturday in some areas.

A winter storm warning will go into effect for north Georgia Friday as a winter storm is expected to bring up to 4 inches of snow this weekend.

Thursday afternoon, Gov. Nathan Deal issued a State of Emergency to begin at 12 p.m. Friday ahead of the incoming weather. The declaration includes 78 north and central Georgia counties.

Several school districts are dismissing early or closing Friday ahead of the incoming winter weather.

Severe Weather Team 2 says a cold front has already started moving in from the northwest, bringing much colder air to most of the state.

Meteorologist Brad Nitz says there is a slight chance for light sleet or freezing rain for a small area Friday morning. Around 4 p.m. a little bit more of the metro area will begin to see a wintry mix.

The main event moves in late Friday night. By 11 p.m., there will be primarily sleet in the metro area with more snow in the mountains.

That sleet will change to snow overnight, covering almost all of the metro by around 3 a.m.

More widespread snow will develop and start to accumulate through the early hours of Saturday.

Parts of the metro area south of Interstate 20 will see significant ice accumulation overnight.

The winter storm warning goes into effect Friday at 1 p.m. in the mountains and 4 p.m. elsewhere, and lasts until Saturday at 1 p.m.

Temperatures will fall into and through the 20s from Friday night into Saturday.

Severe Weather Team 2 says travel will be difficult to impossible in spots late Friday night and into Saturday.

Temperatures Saturday will only briefly get above freezing, meaning treated roads and roads in the direct sunlight may melt, but untreated roads in the shade could stay icy through Sunday and even Monday morning.

Nitz says average snowfall is expected to be between 2 and 3 inches, with some spots seeing 1 inch and others seeing 4 inches.

Meteorologist Brian Monahan says this weekend is the biggest snow and winter weather threat for metro Atlanta since February 2014.

Behind the system, it will turn bitterly cold Saturday afternoon and through early next week with temperatures in the low teens and low 20s and highs only in the 30s.

Cox Media Group