TIFTON — Tift County and city officials are making preparations for the intense cold weather coming their way.

With warnings of below freezing temperatures and a high chance of more than a dusting of snow, the governing bodies of Tift County and the City of Tifton have announced a number of programs and plans to support their communities.

City officials have reported that the offices of the City of Tifton, as well as Ryland Environmental and the Tifton/Tift County Landfill, will be closed Wednesday. Ryland is expected to run their normal routes Tuesday until approximately 1 p.m.

The city police, fire, and public works departments will remain on duty, as the city expects outages and dangerous driving conditions caused by snowfall and icing.

The Tift County Emergency Management Agency has outfitted the Multipurpose Building on North Victory Drive to serve as a warming station for residents who may be struggling to combat the cold.

County residents are encouraged to stay as long as they need, as the warming station will remain open until further notice, and are asked to bring blankets, pillows, sleeping bags, medication, nonperishables, and any other essentials with them. Tables, chairs, and restrooms will be made available, but the station will not be pet-friendly.

Additionally, the county public works department has begun applying salt to bridges, which are at greater risk of icing over due to the lack of warmer ground temperatures underneath the roads.

Residents out on the roads have been prompted to practice safe driving, such as by wearing a seatbelt, and slow down before reaching bridges to avoid the danger of sliding on any accumulated ice.

City and county officials have urged their community members to stay safe and warm in preparation for the coming cold snap.

More information will follow as the situation is updated.