
Zoo Atlanta will remain shuttered today, in response to the chilly weather engulfing the region. As reported by Atlanta News First, cold temperatures prompted the decision to keep the gates closed, a move made to ensure the safety of both visitors and the diverse array of species that call the zoo home.
The closure follows a previous decision to delay yesterday's opening until noon, a step taken by the Zoo as the mercury took a nosedive, the cold weather, not only affecting the operations of the zoo but also casting a frosty pall over the Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations across metro Atlanta. Gwinnett County, for instance, was compelled to cancel its annual parade due to the extreme conditions, cementing the cold's disruptive impact on the community.
An Extreme Cold Warning is in place, spanning metro Atlanta and parts of North Georgia, with temperatures last night expected to plunge into the teens, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. The FOX 5 Storm Team has taken the added measure of declaring today a Storm Alert Day due to potential snowfalls, which could extend northward beyond current predictions.
The zoo has made no announcement as to when it plans to reopen.