The snow is over and so are the winter warnings issued earlier this week for Northeast Georgia. A Winter Weather Advisory for black ice is now in effect until 10AM Sunday for most parts of the region. State and local officials warn of lingering threats from the storm system that dumped snow and ice on Habersham and across Northeast Georgia.
Snow and ice covered trees combined with windy conditions will likely down trees and power lines. Temperatures are not expected to move above freezing today.
Weather Specialist at the White County Emergency Management Agency Don Strength says a few flurries are still possible but measurable snow has exited the state. Sustained winds of 15-25 mph with gusts up to 35mph are likely. The expected high today will be 31 but the wind along with the sun will actually help with the roads in that it will evaporate the ice and snow. Shaded areas will remain slick much longer.
Hazardous driving conditions
State public safety officials urge you to stay at home and off the roads if at all possible. In a post to social media the Georgia State Patrol Post 7 in Toccoa warns roadways are likely to be more treacherous today than yesterday because the precipitation that fell is now frozen solid.
“The snow is over in Habersham County, but the Blue-n-Grays from Post 7 are back out again today. The roadways are likely to be more treacherous today than yesterday due to the fact that all of the precipitation that fell yesterday is frozen solid. Please stay off of the roadways in Northeast GA. If you do have to drive today, please allow yourself plenty of time and buckle up. Remember, that just because you may not be traveling over the posted speed limit, you still may be driving too fast for the conditions of the roadway. Drive slow and use extreme caution. #gsp”
Meanwhile, the Georgia Department of Transportation continues to plow and treat the roads in areas hardest hit. In Rabun County, SR 180 from SR 60 to SR 180 spur were treated prior to snowfall. Portions of Union County had up to 12 inches of snow in the highest elevations and GDOT says crews will continue plowing and spreading material.
Patrolling of the southern parts of Northeast Georgia will continue. Crews will continue applying material to the roads to treat and prevent icing.
Scattered power outages
As of 2 p.m. Saturday, Georgia Power reported 5,060 customers were still without power, with outages shifting eastward. The utility’s online outage map indicated a handful of customers affected in Habersham County and nearly 1,500 without power in Rabun. In the same time frame, Habersham EMC’s outage map indicated just over 100 members were without power, the vast majority of them in Rabun County, as well.
Emergency management officials warn the number of power outages could increase today as saturated soil, high winds and heavy ice topple trees and power lines.
(wrwh.com contributed to this report / featured photo image by Lady Moon Photography)
