Editor’s note: This story was updated Friday morning with information about school closures.
Augusta Fire/EMA, working closely with county departments, is preparing for a significant winter weather event this weekend, and is giving the community pointers for how to get prepared.
The winter weather event forecasted to impact North and Central Georgia from 7 a.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday.
“Be prepared for at least a 72 hour event,” said Fire Chief Antonio Burden.
The weather system is expected to bring a mix of rain, freezing rain, sleet, and snow, beginning Friday morning and continuing through the evening, with hazardous travel and power outages likely.
Ice accumulation is anticipated north of I-20, creating dangerous road conditions and the potential for widespread power disruptions. Freezing temperatures also increase the risk of hypothermia and frostbite for those exposed to the cold.
MORE: Officials gear up for wintry weather weekend
Augusta prepares for inclement weather
The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is at Level 3 monitoring, ensuring all city departments are ready to respond.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office will conduct shelter checks, and the Marshal’s Office is on standby to assist as needed. Augusta Utilities is protecting critical systems, issuing notices to help residents safeguard pipes, and preparing generators. Augusta Engineering is pre-treating roads and preparing snow removal equipment, while Parks and Recreation is securing outdoor facilities and readying shelters for potential use.
Columbia County preparations
On Wednesday, Columbia County EMA Director Shawn Granato sent out an email stating that his agency is monitoring all possibilities. The Roads and Bridges department was on standby and was preparing to put salt out on Friday afternoon.
Guidelines for personal and household safety
Citizens are encouraged to avoid unnecessary travel and drive cautiously if travel is essential.
Prepare homes by insulating pipes, securing outdoor items, and assembling emergency kits. Check on vulnerable neighbors, and use generators safely to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
Fire Chief Burden said that the community should take social media updates regarding the weather to heart, especially after Hurricane Helene, which caught many in Augusta off guard by the unexpected force of its impact.
“There’s an old adage that says, ‘if you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready,’” he said. “We want our citizens to prepare and, you know, preparation brings a better outcome.”
Community resources
Shelters are available for those in need, including the Salvation Army Center of Hope, Garden City Rescue Mission, and Augusta Rescue Mission. At this time, no ID checks will be required for shelter access.
Augusta is also offering daytime warming centers, and those locations are listed at augustaga.gov.
Augusta Transit is providing free transportation to the daytime shelters, but individuals can use Augusta Transit’s normal bus routes during regular operating hours to get to these locations.
For more information and route planning, call Augusta Transit at 706-821-1719 between 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
School weather updates
Richmond County schools will release early on Friday. An update sent at 5:30 p.m. Thursday sent the following early release schedule:
| Regular Dismissal Time | Early Release Time |
| 2:15pm schools | 12:00pm |
| 3:10pm schools | 12:45pm |
| 3:25pm schools | 12:55pm |
| 4:05pm schools | 1:30pm |
| 5:00pm schools | 2:45pm |
All after school activities will be canceled. Updates for Richmond County Saturday activities and field trips will be released no later than 2 p.m. on Friday.
Columbia County School District schools will dismiss early on Friday, the district announced Friday morning. Elementary Schools will be dismissed at 12:10 p.m., middle schools will dismiss at 11 a.m. and high schools will dismiss at 11:05 a.m. There will be grab and go lunches available for students before leaving school. All CCSD facilities will close following early dismissal and all school-related activities are cancelled.
On Friday morning, Aiken County Public School District announced schools will be closed due to the weather.
McDuffie County School System will have a “Learn from Home Day” on Friday. Students should have received their assignments before leaving school on Thursday.
Augusta Tech and Augusta University have both cancelled classed on Friday.
