Georgia Weather: Wind Chill Of -7 Possible Thursday

ATLANTA, GA — Thursday will be another dangerously cold day in metro Atlanta, as a strengthening winter storm continues to bring snow, gusty winds and blizzard conditions to much of the eastern United States.

High temperatures are only expected to hit a still-freezing 32 degrees on Thursday,with wind gusts up to 25 m.p.h. making it feel much colder. Thursday night, temperatures will get as low as they've been during the winter storm — plunging all the way down to 17 degrees.

The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook and wind-chill advisory for north Georgia. The coldest weather will be along and north of a line from Franklin to Fayetteville to Gainesville. The wind-chill advisory officially goes into effect at 7 p.m.

Wind chills as low as 7 degrees below zero are possible, the NWS said in the advisory. The advisory will continue through 10 a.m. Friday. Looking ahead, there s a chance of a wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing ice across north Georgia late Sunday night and Monday morning.

The weather service is warning that cold air and wind can lead to frost bite and hypothermia if precautions aren't taken. Anyone heading out into the cold is advised to wear a hat and gloves.

Meanwhile, Winter Storm Grayson had much of south Georgia, including its coastal communities, under a rare blanket of snow Thursday morning.

Throughout the state, nearly 15,000 people were without power Thursday morning, many of them in south Georgia. Georgia Power was reporting about 9,000 customers without power, mostly in the coastal region. Georgia EMC, which represents the states electricity cooperatives, reported another 5,383 people without power — all of them in its Southeast region.

Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security was reporting icy spots on roads throughout the state Thursday morning.

"If you must drive, do so with caution and let someone know when you plan on arriving," the agency said on Twitter.

In metro Atlanta, the skies are forecast to be clear for the next few days. On Sunday night, though, there is a 60-percent chance of rain before 1 a.m., to be followed, possibly, by freezing rain.

Monday's forecast has an 80 percent chance of precipitation, which could lead to freezing rain.

Photo courtesy Georgia Department of Public Safety