The disruptive winter storm could bring substantial freezing rain and damaging ice accumulations in parts of north Georgia and even some parts of metro Atlanta.

ATLANTA — As a potentially strong winter storm makes its way toward Georgia and across the entire Southeast, some schools in metro Atlanta and the northern part of the state are starting to react accordingly.

The disruptive winter storm could bring substantial freezing rain and damaging ice accumulations in parts of north Georgia and even some parts of metro Atlanta.

From possible impassable roads, widespread power outages due to ice, and a long-duration wintry mix, schools are being forced to close operations for certain days. Fortunately for school operations, this storm will likely impact most of the weekend, but it could have some impacts on Monday as well.


School closures, cancellations and adjustments in metro Atlanta, north Georgia


Atlanta Public Schools

Atlanta Public Schools will operate on a normal schedule Friday, but district officials announced changes due to the potential for icy weather across North Georgia and metro Atlanta.

Friday, Jan. 23: Schools will remain open and operate on a normal schedule.Saturday–Sunday, Jan. 24–25: All APS weekend activities are canceled, including school events, athletics and extracurriculars.Looking ahead: The district is monitoring weather conditions, particularly in North Georgia where some staff live, and will make a decision about operations for Monday, Jan. 26, at a later time.

APS officials said student and staff safety will remain the top priority as conditions are evaluated.


Decatur City Schools

City Schools of Decatur officials say they are closely monitoring the forecast ahead of a potential winter storm that could create hazardous conditions through early Monday, with student and staff safety remaining the top priority.

Friday, Jan. 23: Schools will operate on a normal schedule.Preparation for possible closures: IN CASE OF CLOSURE on Monday, Jan. 26, students in grades K–5 and all Adapted Curriculum classes will be sent home Friday with work packets and a CSD Chromebook. Students in grades 6–12 will continue taking Chromebooks and chargers home to access assignments through Google Classroom. Special education teachers will review all assigned work to ensure appropriate accommodations.Saturday, Jan. 24: All athletic events and school activities are canceled.

District leaders said they will continue to work with local and state officials and the National Weather Service as weather conditions develop.


Gwinnett County Public Schools

Gwinnett County Public Schools officials say they are closely monitoring forecasted weather conditions for the weekend, emphasizing that student and staff safety remains the district’s top priority.

Friday, Jan. 23: No changes to the school day or scheduled events.Saturday, Jan. 24, and Sunday, Jan. 25: All school events and facility use are canceled.Monday, Jan. 26: No schedule changes have been announced at this time. District officials said any updates will be shared as early as possible if conditions warrant adjustments.

If severe weather leads to a school closure or early dismissal, GCPS will communicate updates through GCPS TV, the district website, Facebook and Instagram, ParentSquare, and metro Atlanta news outlets. Full-day closures are typically announced by 6 a.m., when possible.

District leaders also encouraged families and staff to use the ParentSquare app to receive emergency alerts and important updates during inclement weather.


Clayton County Public Schools

Clayton County Public Schools leaders announced schedule changes for extracurricular and athletic activities as the district prepares for anticipated winter weather in the coming days.

Friday, Jan. 23: Extracurricular and athletic events are expected to proceed as scheduled unless otherwise announced.Saturday, Jan. 24, and Sunday, Jan. 25: All district-related extracurricular activities and athletic events have been canceled or postponed.Monday, Jan. 26: The status of athletic events remains under review and has not yet been decided.

District officials said additional updates will be shared as conditions are monitored and decisions are finalized.


Cobb County School District

Cobb County School District officials said they are closely monitoring a major winter storm expected to impact the area and have already made adjustments to weekend activities.

Weekend activities: All extracurricular activities, including sports scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, have been rescheduled.School preparations: Staff will continue preparing schools for severe weather and coordinating with state and county officials, neighboring districts and weather experts throughout the weekend.Monday update: While conditions for Monday remain uncertain, families will receive an update no later than mid- to late Sunday afternoon.

District leaders said all weather-related decisions will prioritize the safety of students and staff. Families are encouraged to monitor CTLS Parent, the district website, social media and 11Alive for updates.


Fulton County School District

Fulton County Schools officials said they are closely monitoring a winter weather system expected to impact Georgia in the coming days and have already made changes to weekend activities.

Saturday, Jan. 24: All activities scheduled to begin at noon or later are canceled or may be rescheduled.Sunday, Jan. 25: All activities, regardless of start time, are canceled or may be rescheduled.Monday status: No decision has been made about the school schedule for Monday. District leaders will continue to assess conditions throughout the weekend, including road safety and building operations, before determining next steps.

Officials said updates will be shared as conditions change, with safety remaining the top priority for students and staff.


Douglas County School System

Douglas County School System officials say they are closely monitoring the potential for severe winter weather this weekend in coordination with state and county emergency management agencies.

Here’s what families should know:

Weekend events: All Douglas County School System events scheduled for Saturday and Sunday are canceled.Legacy Arena: Any changes to events at Legacy Arena will be communicated through its own channels.School decisions: Officials say decisions about school closures or delays are based on weather forecasts, law enforcement input and road condition assessments from the district’s Transportation Department.

Timeline for updates:

Changes to the next school day or after-school and athletic activities will be announced by 5 p.m., when possible.

An additional update may be issued by 9 p.m. if needed.

If road conditions change overnight, families can expect another update by 5 a.m.

How updates are shared: Notifications will be sent through SchoolMessenger and posted on dcssga.org, the district’s Facebook page and shared with local media outlets.

District leaders say they will continue to track conditions closely and emphasized that the safety of students and employees remains the top priority.


University of Georgia

Out of an abundance of caution, UGA encouraged students to leave campus after classes end Friday, if possible. The university said it anticipates being closed Monday but plans to provide an official update early Sunday afternoon regarding operations for Monday, Jan. 26.Residence halls will remain open for students who choose to stay. However, officials said students may be consolidated into limited housing areas with emergency heat and meal service if power outages, water line breaks or other storm-related issues occur.Dining halls and Campus Transit will operate on regular schedules unless weather conditions require changes. University libraries, the Tate Student Center, Ramsey Student Center and other recreational facilities are also expected to remain open, though hours may be adjusted.UGA officials urged students, faculty and staff to monitor emergency.uga.edu and the university’s social media channels for updates. Extended campus locations were advised to follow local guidance.


Spelman College

The Atlanta University Center Consortium announced campus closures this weekend because of inclement weather, citing safety concerns for students, faculty and staff.

Campus closures: All AUC campuses will be closed on Saturday, Jan. 24, and Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026.Activities impacted: All campus activities, meetings and sporting events scheduled for those days are canceled.Monday update: Information regarding operations for Monday, Jan. 26, will be shared as it becomes available.

Officials urged the campus community to continue checking Spelman’s homepage, email and social media channels for the latest updates.


Truett McConnell College (Cleveland, Ga.)

Monday, Jan. 26: The university will be closed.Tuesday, Jan. 27: Classes and operations will resume with a delayed start at 11 a.m.Chapel: There will be no chapel service Tuesday.Potential changes: Officials said Tuesday’s schedule could be adjusted if weather conditions change.

University leaders said they will continue to monitor the forecast and emphasized that the safety and well-being of the campus community remain the top priority.