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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 9:54 a.m. January 23, 2026:
A major winter storm is still expected to bring significant impacts to North Georgia, including Metro Atlanta, this weekend. An ice storm warning has been issued for most of Northeast Georgia. Confidence is high for major and prolonged impacts in these counties. All other counties North of I-20, including the entire Metro Atlanta area and several counties north and east of Macon, remain under a Winter Storm Watch.
One-quarter to an inch of ice accumulation is possible in the Watch and Warning counties between Saturday afternoon and Sunday night. Temperatures will drop below freezing Sunday evening and will remain very cold through Tuesday. Any moisture remaining on roads before late Sunday night will refreeze in addition to any lingering ice accumulations.
If you are in the Watch and Warnings areas, plan to stay off the roads due to hazardous conditions as early as Saturday afternoon. Downed trees and power lines could cause extended power outages and debris issues. Extreme cold temperatures Monday night into Tuesday morning could also cause burst pipes. These impacts could continue into Monday afternoon.
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.