Weekend snow storm: Life-threatening flooding possible

In a statewide weather briefing Thursday morning, January 21, at the White County Emergency Operations Center, models broadcast from the Georgia Emergency Management Agency indicated that freezing rain will starting early Friday morning, possibly as much as 1/10 to ¼ of inch. As of Friday night, the blizzard warning extended only over Long Island, with southern CT facing a winter storm warning.

Blizzard warnings stretched from Washington to NY with heavy snow likely to go even further north than that, stopping just short of Boston. During the initial height of the storm, snow will fall at a rate of 1-3 inches per hour, according to the warning.

Please keep an eye out for any and all updates from your WHAG Weather team as we continue to track this winter storm. The brunt of the storm has past, but scattered snow showers will remain through midday Saturday, with high winds that could still cause problems. This will lead to whiteout conditions…making travel extremely unsafe.

The winter storm warning predicts 6 to 10 inches of snow, with heavier amounts possible locally.

Forecasters expect the heaviest snow before dawn Saturday, with winds as intense as 50 miles per hour.

Coastal flooding will be a concern for all tidal waterways for the next 2 or 3 high tide cycles. High tides will be between 6:30 and 7:15 a.m. Saturday, 7 and 7:45 Saturday night, and between 7:15 and 8 a.m. Sunday (which is expected to be the highest tidal cycle this weekend). From there, high pressure will take over and clear us out through Monday before a weaker system arrives on Tuesday.

Most activities scheduled for today, including SAT exams and sporting events, have been postponed or canceled.

Virtually all local municipalities have invoked their Snow Emergency declarations – which in most cases bans on-street parking in specific areas to allow for better snow removal and plowing. Those who must travel are advised by emergency officials to have a survival kit, and stay with the vehicle if stranded.