Fayette and Coweta counties are expected to miss the brunt of a wintry weather mix Friday night and Saturday, but local drivers may face frozen patches on roadways Saturday night and Sunday morning, according to the Ga. Department of Transportation.

Wintry weather will make for hazardous driving beginning tonight in northwest and northeast Georgia mountains, continuing throughout the day Saturday, potentially expanding southward to include metro Atlanta area Saturday night and Sunday morning, the DOT says.

Snow and ice has begun falling in northwest Georgia and is expected to continue overnight and also spread to northeast Georgia. Accumulations and sub-freezing temperatures are anticipated in those areas, the DOT says.

Treacherous driving conditions will develop overnight throughout North Georgia and the public is advised to avoid all but absolutely necessary travel.

In the metropolitan Atlanta area, precipitation is expected to be mostly rain; but freezing temperatures are forecast for Saturday night. Moisture on roadways at that time will freeze; dangerous black ice may be prevalent.

Georgia DOT crews have begun treating roads in northern counties and will continue throughout the night and Saturday. Metro Atlanta crews will be activated well in advance of any icing in the area. The department’s first priority is maintaining interstate and major federal and state highways. Georgia DOT does not have the resources to routinely treat city streets and county roads.

Again, the public is encouraged to refrain from driving if possible; consult Georgia DOT for road conditions via www.georgia-navigator.com or by dialing 511; and utilize extreme caution if driving is necessary.

The local forecast from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City:

Tonight: A chance of rain before 7 p.m., then occasional rain and sleet. Low around 36. East wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Saturday: A chance of drizzle, snow, and sleet before 1 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 40. Northeast wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Saturday night: Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 26. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 49. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.

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