Warming Shelter To Open New Year's Eve In Cherokee County

CANTON, GA — A blast of arctic air will move into Cherokee County this weekend, and a local church will open its doors to serve as an emergency warming shelter. Action Church at 271 Marietta Road in Canton will open as an overnight shelter on Sunday, Dec. 31 and Monday, Jan. 1.

Doors will be open from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. the following day, and dinner will be served around 6-6:30 p.m., the Cherokee County Emergency Management Agency said.

The agency said shelter organizers could decide to open later in the week if "it is determined that some people need a warm place to stay at night."

Cherokee County and north Georgia will ring in the new year with low in the low to mid 20's Sunday evening and a high of around 36 on Monday, according to the National Weather Service. The mercury will dip all the way down to about 19 degrees Monday night. Some of the highest elevations in north Georgia could be a few degrees colder, however.

"Add in just a little bit of wind, and wind chill values could drop down to the single digits above zero at times during the middle of next week," Cherokee County added.

If you plan to go out New Year's Eve or any time next week, you are strongly encouraged to dress in layers and to avoid extended period of times exposed to the frigid cold. Of course, bring your pets and other items sensitive to cold temperatures indoors.

(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)