Forecast: Rain and snow mix likely in Columbus area, but no accumulation

While the cold and steady rain will continue overnight Friday into Saturday, the National Weather Service is forecasting the possibility of a rain and snow mix between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. in and around the Columbus area, although no significant accumulation is expected.

Any frozen precipitation, courtesy of Winter Storm Benji, is more likely in areas farther north and west of Columbus, to include Auburn-Opelika in Alabama and LaGrange in Georgia. A swath of snow on Friday morning coated the landscape from southern Mississippi through middle and northeast Alabama and into northwest Georgia.

A winter weather advisory and warning issued Friday by the weather service office in Peachtree City, Ga., which lasts until 7 a.m. Saturday, calls for a mix of rain and snow in portions of north and central Georgia.

“Light accumulations are possible as far south as Columbus, Americus and Dublin. Most, if not all of the accumulations will be in grassy areas and on elevated surfaces,” the warning early Friday said. “Saturday morning, any residual moisture on road surfaces could produce black ice, creating hazardous travel conditions.”

A detailed forecast for Columbus by the National Weather Service Friday evening calls for rain before 3 a.m., then turning to a mix of rain and snow, with a low of 33 degrees. “New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible,” the forecast said. The projection for precipitation in the Auburn-Opelika area is similar.

Any snow or wintry mix will likely be over by daybreak on Saturday, forecasters say, with Saturday eventually turning sunny with a high of 45 degrees and gusty winds in the Columbus area. Saturday night is expected to be clear with a low of 28, followed by sunny skies and a high of 46 on Sunday, with an overnight low of 29 degrees.

This story was originally published December 8, 2017 at 1:48 PM with the headline "Forecast: Rain and snow mix likely in Columbus area, but no accumulation."