Storm could bring freezing rain, high winds to north Georgia

ATLANTA (AP) Forecasters say a large storm system expected to hammer the East Coast with blizzard conditions could also bring freezing rain and wind gusts of up to 40 mph to the north Georgia mountains.

The National Weather Service said freezing rain is expected to begin between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m. Friday.

Forecasters say up to a quarter-inch of ice is expected to accumulate in part of north Georgia that's under a winter storm warning. The warning covers about a dozen northern counties and includes the cities of Blairsville, Blue Ridge, Chatsworth, Cleveland, Dahlonega, Dawsonville, Ellijay, Helen, Jasper, and Toccoa.

The weather service says high winds are expected to continue through the day on Friday.

Elsewhere, forecasters warn of heavy, "perhaps crippling'' snow across the northern mid-Atlantic region, including Baltimore, Washington and Philadelphia.