Ice Storm Paralyzes Atlanta And North Georgia Region

North Georgia and the Atlanta metro area found themselves at the mercy of a formidable winter storm over the weekend of January 24-25, 2026, as a rare and dangerous ice event swept across the region, snarling travel, closing schools, and threatening power supplies. For many, the weekend was a tense waiting game, with weather alerts pinging phones and local officials urging residents to stay home and prepare for the worst.

According to 11Alive, the storm began with a wintry mix early Saturday evening, transitioning to freezing rain and sleet as a wedge of Arctic air surged down from the Appalachians. By Sunday morning, the impact was clear: ice accumulations stretched up GA-400 and I-85, east toward Athens, and on to the South Carolina state line. Closer to Atlanta, the effects were less severe—ice glazed stair rails and trees in Midtown, but the ground was mostly wet. Still, the threat was far from over.

"It's going to rain, then get extremely cold later tonight and into the overnight hours. All that slush and the new moisture from the rain will freeze again, creating icy or black-ice conditions on the roads Monday morning," warned 11Alive's Weather Impact Team. The National Weather Service had issued an Ice Storm Warning—the first for the area since February 2014—effective through 10 a.m. on Monday, January 26. Forecasters expected total ice accumulations between a quarter of an inch and one inch, with wind gusts up to 30 mph, reported FOX 5 Atlanta.

In northeast Georgia, the situation was even more precarious. Temperatures hovered in the 20s, and significant ice accumulations were expected to continue through Sunday afternoon. Atlanta News First noted that ice amounts greater than a tenth of an inch were likely across metro Atlanta, with higher totals in Cherokee, Gwinnett, north Fulton, Forsyth, and Hall counties. In places like Gainesville and Braselton, parking lots, cars, and sidewalks were coated in a thick glaze, creating what officials described as "skating rink–like" conditions.

The storm’s timing was particularly problematic. As rain was forecast to exit the region by 9 p.m. Sunday, a blast of cold air would settle in, sending overnight lows into the teens and low 20s. Any moisture left on roads and surfaces would refreeze, setting the stage for hazardous black ice during the Monday morning commute. Wind chills were expected to dip into the single digits, or even closer to zero, making the cold not just uncomfortable but dangerous, especially for those without power.

Travelers faced chaos as well. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, one of the world’s busiest, was hit hard by the storm. As of 1:45 p.m. Sunday, the airport reported 243 delays and a staggering 1,133 cancellations, according to FlightAware and FOX 5 Atlanta. While a ground delay program was eventually lifted, many flights remained disrupted, and crews worked around the clock to keep runways clear with 300,000 gallons of brine and nearly 100 tons of sand-salt mix.

On the ground, the advice was nearly unanimous: stay home. Georgia Emergency Management officials warned that the strength of the weather system could trigger widespread, multi-day power outages and make travel "impossible" across the northern half of the state. As road conditions deteriorated, secondary roads in places like Braselton and Gainesville became impassable despite nonstop work by crews. In Pickens County, multiple roads were closed or impassable, and in Lumpkin County, government officials reported roads becoming "increasingly dangerous."

Power outages became a growing concern as the storm progressed. Early Sunday, Georgia Power reported only a few hundred customers without electricity, but by 11:30 a.m., nearly 35,000 were in the dark, with the highest outages in White County (8,817), Rabun County (7,640), Fulton County (2,602), and Cobb County (2,148), as detailed by FOX 5 Atlanta. Georgia EMC also saw thousands of customers affected. Utility crews—over 600 contractors and tree removal teams—were staged throughout northeast Georgia, ready to respond as falling limbs and ice-laden power lines snapped under the accumulating weight.

Local governments and agencies were quick to act. DeKalb County declared a state of emergency, activating its winter weather response and coordinating efforts across public safety, utilities, and public works. Crews pre-treated roads, staged tree and debris teams, and ensured generators and heating equipment were ready at critical locations. MARTA, Atlanta’s transit system, operated on a limited schedule Sunday and Monday, running only lifeline bus routes to major medical facilities and reducing rail, streetcar, and Mobility service. Riders were urged to check for updates before traveling, as service could be further reduced if conditions worsened.

School closures rippled across the region. By Saturday evening, the University of Georgia, Georgia Gwinnett College, and numerous K-12 districts—including Atlanta Public Schools, Coweta, Cherokee, Rockdale, Gwinnett, Forsyth, and Henry counties—announced closures or digital learning days for Monday. Local officials cited the looming threat of icy roads and power outages, with many warning that conditions could remain hazardous into Tuesday.

Warming centers opened their doors to those in need. In Athens, the Lay Park Community Center provided shelter equipped with a backup generator. Gwinnett County opened six warming centers, including a pet-friendly facility with food for both humans and animals. State parks like A.H. Stephens, Cloudland Canyon, and Unicoi also served as refuges for anyone seeking a safe, warm place to ride out the storm.

Governor Brian Kemp took to social media Sunday morning, urging Georgians to "stay hunkered down" to help first responders and road treatment teams do their jobs. He emphasized that the state was only halfway through the storm and that ongoing rain and freezing temperatures would continue to create dangerous conditions through Monday morning. The Governor also activated 120 Georgia National Guard members, who were deployed to Northeast Georgia as a strike team to respond to the hardest-hit areas once the storm moved in.

Despite the dire warnings, some residents found moments of community and even levity amid the uncertainty. In Dahlonega, locals greeted power crews with snacks as they staged ahead of the ice storm. In downtown Athens, students braved the cold to celebrate canceled classes, even as city officials urged caution and opened emergency shelters.

By late Sunday, as rain began to exit the area and temperatures dropped, much of the earlier ice had turned to slush or melted—only to threaten a refreeze overnight. The week ahead promised little relief, with highs expected to remain in the 30s and low 40s, and the possibility of lingering icy patches keeping everyone on edge.

For North Georgia and Atlanta, the weekend’s storm served as a stark reminder of winter’s power—and the importance of preparation, patience, and looking out for one another when the weather turns wild.