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Winter Storm 1/24-1/25
State of Emergency
Governor Brian Kemp issued a State of Emergency order for all counties in Georgia in preparation for Winter Storm Fern's impact. As the storm moves through the state beginning on Saturday, wintry precipitation is expected throughout North Georgia. The State of Emergency went effect at 11:15 a.m. on Thursday, January 22, and will run through January 29, 2026. Access the full State of Emergency Executive Order here.
Winter Storm 1/24-1/25
Update as of 5:34 p.m. January 21, 2026:
A major winter storm is expected to bring significant impacts to parts of Georgia, especially north of I-20, this weekend. A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for much of North Georgia from late Friday night through Monday morning. Additional counties may be added to the Watch tomorrow.
Wintry precipitation (primarily freezing rain) should begin in northern Georgia mid-to-late Saturday morning and will continue through Sunday evening. Temperatures will bottom out in the teens and 20s on Monday morning and remain very cold through Tuesday of next week.
While it's too early to determine expected impacts in specific locations, the potential exists for significant travel issues, widespread power outages from downed trees and powerlines, and burst pipes this weekend into early next week.
GEMA/HS is closely monitoring the forecast and coordinating with federal, state, and local partners to ensure Georgians have the resources and information they need before, during and after potential winter weather impacts.
We encourage residents to stay informed and have a plan in place to protect themselves and their families. For ongoing updates, follow GEMA/HS, the National Weather Service, your local emergency management agency and trusted media outlets.
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Visit our winter weather page for preparedness tips on what to do before, during and after a storm.
Warming Centers
Georgia State Parks are opening warming stations for public use during this weather event. ParkPass fees will be waived for those using these group shelter warming stations. For locations, dates, times, and the latest updates, please visit: https://gastateparks.org/Alerts.