North Georgia could be in store for the first taste of noticeable winter precipitation for the season over the next 24 hours.
According to the National Weather Service, a mix of rain and snow is possible for parts of north Georgia Thursday night and off and on Friday.
Fresh off of a National Weather Service briefing Thursday morning, Interim Hall County Emergency Management Director Casey Ramsey said a lot depends on timing.
"If we do see all snow, the impacts are going to be minimal, if any. Hopefully it's going to be just on higher elevation areas such as rooftops, grassy areas, stuff like that."
If there are any accumulations, Ramsey echoed a statement from the weather service that warm ground and surface
temperatures bode well for road travel.
According to the weather service, some snow accumulations are possible late Thursday and throughout Friday from Hamilton to the metro Atlanta area and then northeast toward the mountains.
"What a lot of people may see would be the flakes coming down but not necessarily sticking," National Weather Service Meteorologist Adam Bake told the Georgia News Network. "If it comes down heavier, then it is possible it could have light accumulations on roadways and then turn into a slush."
While any rain or snow is expected to be gone Friday night, forecasters and stakeholders, including emergency officials, authorities, and government officials, will be keeping an eye on the thermometer.
"Our biggest concern is going to be in the evening hours of Friday, depending on what may have fallen during the day," Ramsey said. If it freezes in the evening as they predict, then we could have some black ice situations where we just need to be careful on our secondary roads, bridges, overpasses."
Ramsey said it's still early for snow, but officials began preparing for the winter in November and are ready if it causes issues. He said with the current weather system, preparedness for residents would simply be to monitor local media.
"Don't get caught up too much on what you may see on social media. Sometimes that can be the doom and gloom, and that's not always the case," Ramsey said. "I don't feel like it's necessary to go run out and buy your milk and bread."
