How To Be Ready For Georgia's Winter Weather

It’s been a mild season so far in Georgia. But with chilliest days of the year yet to come -- the official first day of winter is December 22 -- weather experts are urging Georgians to be prepared.

Gov. Nathan Deal has proclaimed Dec. 1-5 to be Winter Weather Preparedness Week for Georgia.

“By making a winter weather plan and staying informed, all Georgians can do their part to stay safe as the temperature in our state drops,” Deal said in a news release.

While the state doesn’t see the kind of wintery bluster that some of its northern neighbors routinely face, it’s that rarity that can make things rough when winter storms do hit, experts say.

“Georgia is one of the Southeastern states and cold weather is somewhat foreign to this area,” said Barry Gooden, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Peachtree City who coordinates weather warnings. “Most of Georgia is not prepared for wintery weather, so the travel is going to be impacted and certainly that’s going to have a greater impact on the economy as well.”

In a video on the National Weather Service website, Gooden says patience is key when winter storms hit areas that aren’t accustomed to them.

Millions of Georgians need to think back only to last year, when an ill-timed two inches of snow ground metro Atlanta traffic to a halt, turning minutes-long commutes into all-night ordeals for many.

“It’s just a matter of being conscious when we do get wintery weather, being prepared for it and allowing for the storm to do its course and then melt,” Gooden said. “In most cases, it’s going to melt within a day or two, anyway.”

One way to be prepared is knowing the difference between the list of notices the Weather Service sends when snow, ice storms or other weather events threaten your area. Here’s a look at the different types of notices, and what they mean:

Outlook: A hazardous weather outlook is issued 3-7 days before threatening conditions are expected to arrive. It means there’s at least a 30% chance of hazardous winter weather.

Watch: A watch can be issued for events like a winter storm, wind chill risk or even a blizzard. A watch is issued 12-48 hours in advance when there’s at least a 50% chance of the event taking place.

Advisory: Here’s where it starts to get really serious. If you see an advisory from the Weather Service, that means there’s at least an 80% chance of hazardous weather in your area. They are issued up to 36 hours before an event, and can include things like freezing rain, winter storms and wind chill.

Warning: Like an advisory, a warning is issued up to 36 hours in advance when an event is 80% or more likely to happen. But the events are generally more severe. For example, a wind chill warning is issued when temperatures are expected to drop to -10 degrees Fahrenheit with the wind. A winter storm warning means at least two inches of snow, a half-inch of sleet or a quarter-inch of freezing rain is expected. A blizzard warning -- and, yes, Georgia has had blizzards in the past -- is when those conditions are accompanied by wind gusts of 35 mph or greater.

The most important step Georgians can take to get ready for extreme winter weather is to put together a “ready kit” with a three-day supply of food, water and other critical supplies they’ll need if power goes out and travel is unsafe, officials say.

The kit should include items for your vehicle including a car charger, ice scraper, jumper cables, blankets and sand for traction.