With temperatures already dropping into the upper 30s near Columbus, the National Weather Service is forecasting a rain/snow mix possible for north of Macon and icy roads as far south as Cordele.

Late Thursday and early Friday, light rain will likely mix with snow north of a line from Columbus to Macon to Warrenton, but no accumulation is expected on the warm ground.

Meteorologists are now saying isolated sections of the north Georgia mountains could see 5 inches, with 2 to 4 inches expected across northwest Georgia.

The National Weather Service also extended its Winter Storm Warning for extreme northwest Georgia by three hours and expires at 10 a.m. Friday.

Winds are expected to gust to 30 mph in the warning area.

A strong low pressure system cutting across the state is ushering in a cold air mass that will drop temperatures overnight to an expected low of 30 degrees Friday in Macon.

The greatest concern for Middle Georgia is patches of black ice developing on bridges and overpasses as temperatures fall below freezing.

Winds are expected to be out of the northwest at 10-15 mph, but will not likely dry up all the moisture left from soaking rain.

The National Weather Service advises the potential for black ice will stretch as far south as a Cordele to Sandersville line.

Friday's forecast high for Macon hits 56 , but the temperature plunges to 28 Saturday morning.