As the first winter storm of 2025 approaches, road crews across North Georgia have been working throughout the week to ensure safety during the expected snow, freezing rain, and sleet set to hit the region on Friday, continuing into the early hours of Saturday.
The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) began pretreating major state routes on Wednesday, with crews working through the night into Thursday. Large trucks and tractor-trailers outfitted with brine solution tanks were spotted spraying a saltwater solution along highways throughout the region in preparation for the hazardous conditions.
Local governments also began gearing up earlier in the week, with most preparations completed by Thursday afternoon.
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Baldwin
Baldwin Public Works crews were hard at work Thursday morning, making final preparations for the storm. According to Public Works Director Scott Barnhart, the city was nearly ready, with all trucks equipped with plows and spreader bodies by lunchtime.
Two trucks, previously used for other duties earlier in the week, were outfitted with the necessary equipment to handle the storm. Baldwin crews are planning to pretreat problem areas and major roads overnight, ensuring they are fully prepared. “We will be ready when the first snowflakes begin to fall,” Barnhart stated.
Hall County
Hall County crews also completed their preparations on Wednesday, ensuring trucks and motor graders were ready to clear roads during the storm.
On Thursday, crews began treating bridges and other high-risk areas with brine solution to prevent ice from bonding to road surfaces.
“We are not treating all of the county’s roads, but we are treating the necessary roadways that could impact public safety and utility crews as they respond to calls following the incoming inclement weather,” said Hall County Road Maintenance Superintendent Jimmy Hightower.
A press release from Hall County Public Information Officer Joy Licciardi confirmed that county officials are focused on pretreating bridges, fire stations, and access roads to essential facilities.
Local officials are urging residents to stay home and limit travel, as road conditions could change rapidly, becoming hazardous for drivers.
Habersham County
In Habersham County, preparations have also been underway throughout the week. Public Works Director Jerry Baggett assured residents that the county’s crews are fully prepared, with snowplows, trucks, and equipment checked and ready for operation.
“It has been a few years since we have had snowfalls of this capacity here in Habersham County. Habersham County Public Works, along with other departments, are preparing for what is to come,” stated Habersham County Public Information Officer Ashlyn Brady in a press release.
Habersham County and Baldwin officials echoed the same message as their Hall County counterparts, urging residents to stay off the roads to allow road crews to clear them efficiently and unimpeded. This will ensure that first responders and utility crews can respond promptly to emergencies such as power outages, medial emergencies, and fallen trees.
With the winter storm expected to impact road conditions across North Georgia, local officials are stressing the importance of staying safe, avoiding unnecessary travel, and allowing crews to work to clear roadways for the safety of everyone.
Governor appeals to Georgians to limit travel
According to the National Weather Service, the far northern part of the state can expect between two and four inches of accumulation. Further south, down to below the I-20 corridor, including metro Atlanta, NWS forecasters predict a wintery mix, leaving up to two inches of snow and sleet on the ground, with freezing rain leading to up to a quarter inch of ice.
“As the day goes along, it’s going to move east across the state,” said NWS meteorologist Vaughn Smith. “So the entire state is going to see some form of precipitation, but north and portions of central Georgia will see snow, ice, freezing rain.”
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared a statewide state of emergency ahead of the storm and urged Georgians to limit travel “as much as possible in the coming days.”
“Hazardous conditions, including ice and snow, can develop quickly and make travel very dangerous. Plan ahead and stay tuned to updates from state and local officials to ensure you and your loved ones remain safe while our first responders continue to work tirelessly throughout this weather event,” Kemp said.
Smith echoed Kemp’s warning about travel.
“Ice is going to be the main concern, and anything on the road will freeze, even if it’s snow, it’s going to be frozen, so it’ll be like ice, so if you do not have to go anywhere, please do not,” he said.
On the bright side, Saturday is expected to be sunny and in the mid-30s for much of the state, Smith said, which should help roadways dry off before the thermometer dips below freezing again Saturday night. Thawing out could take a little longer up in the north Georgia mountains and on roadways that don’t get direct sunlight, so drive with caution.
