DO NOT GO PANIC BUYING BREAD AND MILK
Cold persists again today as temps dropped well below freezing into the teens overnight, and Polk County wakes up to a bitter morning with the threat of snow right around the corner.
Accumulation is still to be determined as of this moment for a potential Friday snowstorm to reach as far south as the I-20 corridor, but whether or not it will require calling off school and closing offices for the day is still to be determined.
Officials are set to meet at midday to consider options as predictions are holding for a snowy end to the week. Superintendent Dr. Katie Thomas for the Polk School District noted at the conclusion of the work session on Tuesday afternoon for the Board of Education that a decision was likely going to be determined today whether it’ll be a learning-from-home day for students.
Right now the only place actually announcing ahead of the predictions that they plan to close shop is Our House Thrift Store, which will shutter on Friday and will determine any hours on Saturday as conditions develop, per their post on Facebook on Tuesday.
Check back for more on closures as the predictions update throughout the rest of the week.

For now, it just remains sunny and cold for Polk County. The area is waking up to temps down into the 20s after an overnight dip down below the freezing point once again, and more of the same is expected later tonight. A high of 41 is still expected for the day, but predictions are that the area could get down to as low as 17 overnight.
NWS Peachtree City calls for more of the same on Thursday – a high up to 42 is in store for Polk – but then cloudy skies move in overnight and the chance for snow beginning in the early morning hours of Friday currently sits at 20%, and temps down into the 20s as moisture moves in from the gulf and meets a low pressure front backed by the polar vortex bringing temperatures down here in early January.
Through the day Friday snow accumulation is expected and a high of 37 is in store for the day, with a low down into the 20s overnight.
Snow could continue into Friday night, but sunshine so far is in store for Saturday and heading into the rest of the weekend, giving Polk a chance to thaw as temps reach into the 40s during the day by Sunday.
Starting next week, temps should be back into the seasonal mid 40s for a high and down into the 20s overnight.
Rain is back in store by MLK Day, so consider that in planning ahead.
Where will it snow?

As of Tuesday night when this post was being crafted, NWS Peachtree City was predicting that Polk sat above the 70% mark for an accumulation of snow above 1″ or more coming through on Friday. The line include portions of Haralson and Paulding counties as well, and further north those predictions increase above 80% heading into the rest of North Georgia and Northeast Alabama.
The predictions also call for potential accumulations of ice as temperatures could turn the snow into a wintry mix, and those could leave around 1/10th of an inch of ice across the roadways and surfaces.
Prepare for snow and ice, but hopefully it’ll just remain something to build a small snowman with and allow folks to still get around safely.
Get ready for winter weather
With a chance for snow accumulation in store, take notice Polk County: there’s no reason to go crazy just because a winter wonderland might happen. Take a deep breath and focus on things you can do to prepare versus panic buying up all the bread and milk in stock at the grocery store for a change.
It is good to keep a store of NON-PERISHIBLE FOOD ITEMS on hand for emergencies where one might be snowed in, but do so with reasonable intent (also remembering that BREAD AND MILK HAVE A SHELF LIFE.) EMA officials do suggest having 72 hours of items like canned goods on hand for power outages along with a supply of drinking water for upward of four people. A like amount of food is also needed for pets. Fuel supplies for a generator or your main source of heat should also be kept up during such times JUST IN CASE of power outages, but so far the predictions do no come with a major accumulation of ice or major winds that could bring down trees from the weight of a large amount of snow.
Additional items like batteries for flashlights and radios, a rechargeable battery source for a phone, a first aid kit, additional blankets and changes of clean clothes are also good to have on hand. These items should also be on hand for anyone planning to travel in these conditions as a precaution against getting stranded in the weather.