Alpharetta Could See Snow Late Thursday

Alpharetta-Milton and North Fulton County could get the first snow of the winter and 2013 on Thursday night, according to the National Weather Service.

A strong low pressure system and ample Gulf moisture will meet, resulting in widespread rain and an associated deep cold air mass that will begin to spread across north and central Georgia on Thursday afternoon and evening, meteorologists say in a special weather statement issued today.

As a result, rain could change over to snow across parts of north Georgia, including North Fulton.

But the worst problem now is the continued possibility of flooding with the constant rainfall. A flood watch remains in effect for much of north Georgia through tonight.

Despite recent unseasonably warm temps, residents could see some light accumulations of snow across parts of north Georgia by mid to late Thursday afternoon or evening, mainly on elevated and grassy surfaces.

While folks as far south as a LaGrange-to-Athens line could see light snow, the best chance for accumulations would be generally north of the Interstate 20 corridor west of Atlanta and the Interstate 85 corridor east of Atlanta, an area that includes Alpharetta-Milton and North Fulton. 

At this time, no travel difficulties are expected, except for in the north Georgia mountains where there's a better chance for higher accumulations. But patches of black ice could affect bridges and overpasses from late Thursday evening through mid Friday morning when temps fall below freezing.

In Alpharetta and Milton, expect areas of fog before 8 a.m. Thursday, and patchy fog before 10 a.m. most mornings this week. The chance of rain is 80 percent tonight, 60 percent Wednesday and 100 percent Thursday, according to the NWS forecast. Showers will continue Thursday night when the low is expected to dip to 32.

Friday will be mostly sunny with a high around 51.

Check back with Alpharetta-Milton Patch for updates as forecasts change.