Note: An updated article with information about road closings and flood warnings has been posted at this link.
Ahead of severe weather tonight going into Tuesday, Dawson County Schools will have an online learning day on Jan. 9, 2024, according to a Jan. 8 announcement from the school district.
Additional information for online learning can be found on the district's website, and students’ schools will also provide more details, the school system stated in its Facebook post.
“The safety of our students and staff is of utmost importance. Thank you for your continued support. Stay safe and be weather aware,” the school district added.
The National Weather Service has issued a high wind warning for Dawson County and its northern neighbors in advance of what the agency called widespread “potent” storms that will move into the region later Monday.
The NWS warning lasts from 4 p.m. today, Jan. 8, until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 9, according to the weather agency. Winds are expected to reach 20-30 mph, with some gusts above 40 mph predicted across Georgia’s northern mountains.
Rain is predicted to fall in the Dawson County area starting late tonight.
A flood watch has also been issued for areas including Dawson County. The watch will be in effect from midnight tonight through Tuesday evening, according to another National Weather Service alert.
Periods of heavy rain, with widespread rainfall of two to four inches and isolated higher amounts, are possible in the region, the flood watch stated.
The heaviest rain will happen between Tuesday morning to afternoon as a front moves through the area, with a line of thunderstorms ahead of it.
“Rainfall amounts of two to four inches are expected, but locally higher amounts will be possible, especially along the southward-facing slopes of the [northeastern] Georgia mountains,” the NWS flood watch stated.
These winds could blow down trees and power lines, and widespread power outages are expected, according to a Jan. 8 NWS hazardous outlook.
Safety tips
People are encouraged to use caution if they must drive, avoid being outside in forested areas and around trees and branches, avoid windows if in buildings and stay in the lower elevations of their homes.
With saturated soils from rain, the NWS also advised people to look out for possible flooding in low-lying and other flood-prone areas.
People are also encouraged to monitor forecasts and be ready to act, should flash flood warnings be issued, the NWS watch added.
Flood safety information is available at http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood.
Maintenance roadwork along the Dawson County portion of Ga. 53 will not be done while it’s raining and the road is wet, according to Georgia Department of Transportation spokesperson Elizabeth Johnson.
If the roadway is still wet on Wednesday, then work would have to be postponed until the road surface is dry, Johnson added.
There are multiple ways people can stay up to date on weather conditions. Options include using a weather radio and following the Dawson County Fire and Emergency Services and U.S. National Weather Services’ Peachtree City office on Facebook.
The Dawson County Sheriff’s Office is also posting public safety and weather updates on its Facebook and Instagram pages.
Dawson-area residents can also sign up for Dawson County’s alert system, Smart911.
Forecast updates for Dawson County and neighboring areas are available on the National Weather Service website here.