Prepare for severe cold to last through Christmas in Macon, NWS says

Severe weather starting Friday morning will stay in Macon through Christmas Day, with wind chill keeping the temperature in the single digits, according to the National Weather Service.

A forecaster from the NWS Peachtree City office confirmed Thursday that temperatures below freezing will set in until Monday afternoon.

“They should stay at or below freezing through Sunday afternoon. So you’re looking at 48 hours of that temperature, then again through Sunday night,” said forecaster Vaughn Smith. “Wind chill will bring the temp down to the single digits, so people should limit their outside activity as much as possible.”

Smith’s updated information comes after the NWS released a text message Wednesday about a wind chill warning, advising against “some of the coldest air Georgia has seen in 5 to 8 years.”

The severe cold is unexpected for many in the South, with Macon and Middle Georgia being no exception.

“This is something that here in Macon you don’t deal with on a regular basis,” said Spencer Hawkins, the director of Macon EMA. “You’ll have a couple of days some winters where it gets to 20 degrees in the night, but this is during the daytime. In the afternoons we’ll be in the single digit temperatures.”

Due to the rarity of weather like this, there’s a lot of things to remember when the temperature drops.

“The most important thing is that you stay safe and if you do not be outside, don’t be outside. It’s the same as when hurricanes come through, limit your time outdoors,” Hawkins said. “If you have to be outside for some reason, dress warmly with layers. If you have an outdoor pet, they can freeze just as well as you can, so they need to be taken care of.”

Hawkins also mentioned checking the tire pressure on cars before traveling for Christmas, making sure to have reliable heating methods and having a plan for losing power as good precautions for the weekend.

“Those winds aren’t like a hurricane, but they’re enough to blow you away and even take down a limb or two. Losing power is possible. It’s just good to be prepared for all the possibilities,” Hawkins said.

The cold weather will finally abate Monday, according to NWS, as temperatures should reach the 40 degree mark.