Cold snap will linger in Atlanta through the weekend
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Temperatures could fall 20 degrees below normal or more in parts of the Eastern U.S. this week as a blast of Arctic air settles in like an unwanted house guest that doesn't get the hint.
The latest: As of Tuesday, 173 million people were under extreme cold warnings, NBC News reports.
Driving the news: The National Weather Service says low temperatures will remain below freezing in metro Atlanta and north Georgia through the weekend, according to its briefing released Tuesday.
- High temperatures will reach the 40s through Saturday while the lows for Saturday, Sunday and Monday will range from 15 to 20 degrees.
- Sunday's high is expected to be around 34 degrees, the NWS forecast shows.
The intrigue: The area's next chance of precipitation will be this weekend, with light rain Friday that could turn into snow Friday night and Saturday morning.
Yes, but: Don't expect it to stick if you're in metro Atlanta, as the eastern parts of the state will be the "best locations for any accumulations," NWS writes in its briefing.
- The precipitation is expected to leave Georgia by Saturday afternoon.
Zoom out: NWS forecasters say "frigid temperatures are set to continue throughout the next several days" as another round of Arctic air will move in to the Plains and stretch to the east and southeast starting Friday.
- The wind chill will drop to as low as -20 degrees in areas such as the Upper Ohio River Valley.
- "Low temperatures will continue to pose life-threatening risk of hypothermia and frostbite," NWS says. "Continue to cover up if you are outside, ensure that pets and animals have protection from the cold, and continue to mitigate frozen pipes."
State of play: The prolonged extreme cold means any ice that fell in north Georgia during last weekend's winter storm may stick around.
The big picture: Long cold snaps also bring health risks and travel hazards — and could strain power grids as people crank their thermostats.
What we're watching: Weather experts are eyeing another potentially major winter storm moving up the East Coast this weekend, but it's still too early for confidence or specifics.