The Georgia Department of Public Health’s Northwest Health District office in Rome and health departments across 11 Northwest Georgia counties will be closed Monday, January 26, due to anticipated hazardous weather.
Counties included in the closure are Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Gordon, Haralson, Paulding, Polk, and Walker. Residents needing services are encouraged to plan ahead and monitor official updates for reopening information once conditions improve.
Winter is settling in with bitter cold and frigid wind chills—enough to make anyone shiver just thinking about it. Forecasters expect a surge of Arctic air to spread across a large part of the country, from the Midwest to the Northeast, and the cold could linger into next month. With temperatures and wind chills dropping, the risk of frostbite and hypothermia rises, so safety experts say it’s important to take simple precautions now.
While Chattooga County and all of Northwest Georgia remain under an Ice Storm Warning, the National Weather Service forecast for our area is calling for only a slight chance of freezing rain before 10 AM this morning. Early temperatures were running marginal for widespread icing, with LaFayette and Mentone hovering just below freezing at 31 degrees, while Gaylesville, Alabama and Rome were closer to 40. Summerville was sitting at 35 degrees. Those readings are a bit warm for freezing rain in many spots, but sleet could still fall anywhere across the area, especially in heavier bursts of precipitation.
Cold weather can be dangerous for pets, with real risks of hypothermia and frostbite—especially for short-haired, small, elderly, or sick animals. The safest plan is simple: keep pets indoors as much as possible, limit time outside, and take a few extra precautions when they do go out.
The City of Summerville is preparing ahead of possible freezing conditions this weekend by pre-treating streets with a brine solution to help reduce ice impacts. City officials say all Public Works staff will be available, and snow and ice removal equipment is ready if conditions worsen.
In addition, the North Summerville Gym will be available to the Chattooga Resource Center to operate a warming shelter as needed.
City officials also announced that City Hall will delay opening on Monday until 10:00 a.m. The update was issued by City Manager Jason Winters.
With winter weather and colder temperatures in the forecast, the City of Summerville is reminding residents to take a few simple steps now to reduce the risk of frozen or burst pipes. The city recommends letting faucets drip at a thin stream—about the size of a pencil lead—especially for sinks on exterior walls, and opening kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to help warmer air circulate around plumbing. Officials also advise disconnecting garden hoses from outdoor spigots and using insulated covers if available. Residents are encouraged to make sure everyone in the home knows where the main water shut-off valve is located in case a pipe breaks. For questions or assistance, residents can contact the City of Summerville at 706-859-0900.
With snow, ice, and sleet creating hazardous travel conditions, AAA – The Auto Club Group is urging drivers to take proactive steps to stay safe on winter roads. AAA notes winter weather can be deadly, citing U.S. Department of Transportation figures showing 1,300 people are killed and 116,000 injured each year in crashes on snowy or icy pavement.
Forecasters say a high-impact winter storm is increasingly likely across Georgia this weekend, with freezing rain and ice expected to be the primary hazards and the potential for widespread power outages and dangerous travel conditions. The Winter Storm Watch has been expanded to include most of North Georgia and a small portion of Central Georgia, with the watch starting 1:00 AM Saturday for the far northern tier and beginning 1:00 PM Saturday for areas generally near and south of I-20. Both time periods extend through 10:00 AM Monday.
CRC Chattooga is asking for community volunteers as preparations increase for the possibility of opening a warming station this weekend if extreme cold conditions develop. Organizers say the ability to open the shelter depends entirely on having enough volunteers to staff it, noting that without sufficient help, the shelter cannot be operated safely. CRC Chattooga is seeking evening and overnight volunteers, and may also need day-shift volunteers if weather conditions limit travel. The group is also looking for people to help provide meals, which could include simple options like sandwich supplies and bread depending on power conditions, and volunteers willing to offer encouragement and support to guests. Those who can help are asked to use the sign-up link provided by CRC Chattooga to indicate how they can serve.
Chattooga County and the rest of Northwest Georgia are under elevated fire danger today due to very low humidity and dry air combining with northwest winds this afternoon and evening, while a separate storm system later this week may bring rain and an increasing risk of impactful wintry weather over the weekend.
