Honestly, if you looked out the window this morning and saw clear skies, you might’ve thought we were in for a typical, quiet winter Saturday. But the weather today in Georgia is basically a masterclass in how fast the South can flip the script. We are currently sitting in that eerie "calm before the storm" phase. While it started out clear with a crisp 39°F in some spots, don’t let that morning sun fool you. By tonight, things are going to get messy.
The National Environmental Agency and local forecasters are already sounding the alarm because what starts as a mild 62°F high is going to crash into a soggy, potentially icy mess.
Why the weather today in Georgia is a total bait-and-switch
Most people see a 62°F high on the forecast and think "light jacket weather." Not today. We've got a massive split-screen situation happening across the state. In Western Georgia, light rain is already starting to creep in. It’s not just a drizzle; it’s the precursor to a much larger system that’s going to soak the state.
By the time the sun goes down, the chance of rain jumps to a staggering 75%. That’s a lot of water.
And here is the part where it gets tricky: the temperature is scheduled to dive back toward 40°F tonight. When you combine that much moisture with falling temperatures, you get the kind of "Georgia Winter" that keeps DOT crews up all night. The National Weather Service out of Peachtree City is specifically watching the I-85 corridor. There is a lot of uncertainty about the exact "cutoff line" where rain turns into something white and crunchy.
✨ Don't miss: How Is Trump Doing in the Election: What Most People Get Wrong About the 2026 Midterms
What’s happening in the mountains vs. the coast
If you’re up in the North Georgia mountains—think Elijay, Blue Ridge, or Suches—you’re looking at a different beast entirely. Forecasters are calling for light snow at elevations above 2,000 feet. We aren't talking about a blizzard yet, but accumulations on grassy surfaces are expected.
Down in Savannah, it’s a whole different vibe. They’re looking at a high of 65°F today. It’ll stay cloudy and gray, but the real rain doesn't hit the coast with force until much later tonight.
- Atlanta High: 52°F (Much cooler than the southern part of the state)
- Statewide High: Reaching up to 62°F in central pockets.
- Overnight Low: Hovering right around the 40°F mark for the metro, but dropping to 30°F in Atlanta.
Wait, did you catch that? Atlanta's low of 30°F means that 59% chance of rain during the day turns into a 20% chance of actual snow by tonight. This is exactly why Georgia weather is so hard to pack for.
The Snow Squall Factor
You might’ve heard people talking about "snow squalls" on the news. These are essentially the winter version of a summer thunderstorm—intense, brief, and incredibly dangerous because they drop visibility to zero in seconds. While the most brutal squalls are currently battering the Midwest and Plains, the tail end of that cold front is what’s driving our rain-to-snow transition here in the Peach State.
Honestly, the wind is the part that’s going to catch people off guard. We’re looking at southwest winds around 8 mph, but gusts could be higher as the front pushes through.
Keeping the Lights On
As of right now, the grid is holding up well. Earlier this morning, there were only about 71 customers without power statewide. Most of those were tucked away in Gilmer and Murray counties. If you remember the storms from a few days ago that knocked out power for over 10,000 people in Metro Atlanta, today feels like a relief so far.
But—and this is a big "but"—with rain turning to snow and ice potentially forming on power lines in the mountains, those numbers could change fast. Amicalola EMC and North Georgia EMC are already on high alert for their mountainous service areas.
How to handle the next 24 hours
Basically, you’ve got until about 4:00 PM to get your outdoor errands done. Once that 75% precipitation chance kicks in tonight, the roads are going to be slick.
If you're driving through the mountains or along the I-85 corridor late tonight, keep an eye on the thermometer in your car. When it hits 36°F and it’s raining, that’s your cue to find a place to park it. Black ice loves to hide on Georgia’s overpasses and bridges.
- Check your pipes: Even though it’s 62°F now, the dip to 30°F in Atlanta and lower in the mountains means you should probably drip those faucets if you're in a vulnerable spot.
- Charge the devices: With 75% rain chances and wind, isolated outages are almost a guarantee.
- Watch the mountain passes: Roads like GA-60 and areas around Blood Mountain will likely see the first signs of accumulation.
The weather today in Georgia is a reminder that January never plays fair. We're oscillating between spring-like warmth and winter's bite in the span of twelve hours. Stay dry, stay warm, and maybe keep a flashlight handy just in case those icy lines start sagging tonight.
Check your local county emergency management social media pages around 6:00 PM today; that's when the final call on snow totals for the I-85 corridor will likely be updated as the cold air starts to catch up with the moisture.