The dreaded “s” word – and possible other winter weather – looms in the forecast for Friday night and Saturday.

 

The National Weather Service in Peachtree City said late Wednesday that the picture of what kind of precipitation the area would get – and when it would fall – is becoming clearer. The exact amounts of potential precipitation still are unknown.

 

There’s a 50 percent chance of rain Friday afternoon, expected to turn from rain to snow in the early evening hours. The area could see “a few hours” of rain snow mix, forecaster Nikole Listemaa said, before turning completely over to snow after midnight.

 

Snow will taper off in the late morning/early afternoon hours of Saturday and could accumulate up to 2 inches.

 

“The temperature Friday night will be in the upper 20s so elevated surfaces, bridges and overpasses could develop black ice,” she said.

 

Black ice will continue to be an issue Saturday night and Sunday night as nighttime temperatures remain in the 20s, Listemaa said.

 

“Any lingering moisture will refreeze,” she said.

 

The forecast will continue to evolve and area residents should pay attention to the weather as conditions change.

 

“It’s something we’re definitely keeping an eye on,” said Dennis Knight, Troup County Emergency Management director. “If we do get any kind of winter weather, we encourage people to stay home unless they absolutely have to be out.”