Meteorologist advises North Georgia to prep for more winter weather

Even though North Georgia got hit with a surprise snowstorm earlier this month - well before the first day of winter - weather experts are still advising that we get our homes ready for the season

 

Forensic meteorologist Mark McGinnis, the founder and owner of Fair Skies Consulting, LLC, said in a recent interview with AccessWDUN that he expects the region to see more winter precipitation in the next few weeks.

 

"It looks like you guys in the South are going to have at least one or two more surges of cold air over the next three weeks, and whenever that happens in the South, there is the threat of dealing with some kind of wintry weather," McGinnis said. "We haven't even officially gotten into winter, but you should expect some more inconvenient weather over the next month."

 

Of course, the first official day of winter is Dec. 21, and McGinnis has been making the media rounds, encouraging people to get their homes prepared for the coldest months of the year.

 

McGinnis said during the snowstorm just over a week ago, people might have noticed some deficiencies around the house that need to be fixed before the next snow. 

 

"You want to be prepared before the storm hits," McGinnis said. "Couple of things you can do right now. One, check your insulation. Obviously, we've already had a shot of cold weather, so where were the drafts in your house? Can you add some more insulation, can you add some more weather stripping?"

 

The other, said McGinnis, is making sure your chimney has been inspected if you plan to use your fireplace for supplemental heat. He said it's vital have carbon monoxide detectors in your house if you do use your fireplace on a regular basis. 

 

In addition, McGinnis said it's a good idea to have a winter kit for your home just in case you get snowed in.

 

"You want to have food and water, preferably two to three days supply for each family member -also your pets, too. Part of that kit should include flashlights, extra batteries, extra blankets," McGinnis said. 

 

McGinnis said residents should also keep tabs on the weather forecasts via the National Weather Service and local media - and err on the side of caution if storms are predicted.