As the winter storm settles after a day of snow flurries, Habersham County and Northeast Georgia will likely experience power outages in pockets as wind and freezing temperatures are expected through the night.
With between 1-3 inches of snow throughout the day, lower temperatures and the weight of snow and ice on tree limbs, the potential for scattered outages may arise.
A low of 28 degrees is projected in Habersham Friday night. Wind speeds maintained around 5 mph just after 5 p.m. Friday. Winds are expected to increase after midnight with gusts up to 25 mph possible by daybreak.
As of 5:30 p.m. Friday evening, HEMC reported 50 customers in Habersham (0.36%) without power. Just over 90 Georgia Power customers reported their utilities down in the county.
Surrounding counties had mostly not yet been affected, though at least 10 HEMC customers lost power in White County Friday evening. Georgia Power posted an estimated 34 White County customers without power around the same time.
Much of Friday saw severe road conditions from snow and ice through the region, with cars often abandoned on roadways throughout Habersham and surrounding counties.
Safety officials continue to urge the public not to attempt travel on roadways unless absolutely necessary, especially through the night as black ice becomes an increasing likelihood.
