Freezing Precipitation Possible Thursday Night, Friday

The threat of wintry weather for Duluth and Gwinnett is looming again.

According to the National Weather Service, there is a "slight chance" of freezing rain overnight Thursday (Jan. 24) after 3 a.m. and "a chance" for freezing rain Friday (Jan. 25) before noon, then rain or freezing rain "likely" between noon and 1 p.m., and rain after 1 p.m. Also, winds could reach 15 mph and gust to 20 mph.

The low Thursday night is forecast to be about 29 degrees. Friday's low is expected to be 32 with a high of 37. An Arctic air mass and moisture moving into the area is blamed. Little or no ice accumulation is expected.

The NWS hazardous weather outlook reads in part:

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA. ... THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... AN ARCTIC AIRMASS WILL BE MOVING INTO THE EASTERN HALF OF THE UNITED STATES ON THURSDAY SETTING UP A COLD AIR WEDGE ACROSS NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA. AT THE SAME TIME MOISTURE FROM THE WEST AND SOUTHWEST IS EXPECTED TO RISE UP AND OVER THE COLD AIR AT THE SURFACE. THE COMBINATION OF THESE INGREDIENTS WILL SET THE STAGE FOR POSSIBLE FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET OVERNIGHT THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING.

The wintry threat should end by the weekend. Forecasts call for sunny weather and a high near 48 on Saturday.

Still, the threat would present problems for commuters as well as school buses carrying students to and from Gwinnett schools. GCPS policy is to wait as late as 6 a.m. on the day of classes before deciding whether to cancel.