In this file photo, ice covers E. 5th Street on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015, after heavy overnight regional snowfall blanketed the Chattanooga, Tenn., area.ATLANTA -- Gov. Nathan Deal has declared a state of emergency for 15 counties in north Georgia, saying that the state was "well prepared" for a wave of snow and ice expected over the next two days.
In a statement Tuesday, Deal said that the order extends through Thursday and frees up state employees and equipment to respond to the wintry weather.
The executive order covers Dade, Walker, Catoosa, Chatooga, Whitfield, Murray, Gordon, Fannin, Gilmer, Union, Towns, Pickens, Dawson, Lumpkin and White counties.
The National Weather Service placed parts of north Georgia under a winter storm warning as meteorologists warned of snow and ice. Light frozen precipitation is also possible in Atlanta's northern suburbs.
Meteorologists predicted that Georgia could see an unusually cold winter thanks to a strong El Nino weather pattern.