Black ice warning issued for Northeast Georgia

Drivers in Northeast Georgia are being urged to use extreme caution when traveling overnight Saturday and early Sunday. Below freezing temperatures combined with melted snow could result in areas of black ice.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory from 10 p.m. Saturday until 10 a.m. Sunday. The advisory states black ice is expected. Drivers should plan on slippery road conditions.

The advisory extends from Northeast Georgia to upstate South Carolina and piedmont and western North Carolina.

In addition to the threat of ice, downed trees and power lines are still creating problems on area roadways. Road and utility crews are working to repair the damage caused by trees and power lines that snapped under the weight of heavy snow.

Winter Storm Benji dumped more than a half-foot of snow on parts of North Georgia between the early morning hours of Friday and Saturday.

State Route 356 between Batesville and Robertstown/Helen was closed for seven hours Saturday as crews cleaned up downed trees and power lines. It reopened shortly after 5 p.m.