LIST OF CLOSINGS AND CANCELLATIONS
National Weather Service forecast for Gainesville
Tonight: Snow, mainly before 7pm. Low around 30. North wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 46. West wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Wednesday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 50. West wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
The National Weather Service has canceled its winter storm warning and winter weather advisory, but snow earlier today kept emergency officials busy. And freezing temperatures overnight may make morning road conditions hazardous.
Hall County Emergency Management Director David Kimbrell said crews have been trying to control ice on the roadways.
"With the low around 26 tonight, we expect overnight and tomorrow to be our biggest challenge," Kimbrell said.
An estimated two to three inches of snow accumulated in the Gainesville area today, and icy patches started to form on North Georgia’s roads as temperatures dropped.
There have been 28 wrecks in the county, but 17 were in the morning, officials said. Road conditions improved by late afternoon.
Hall County crews were gearing up to start clearing and spreading salt on heavily traveled roads showing the most piling up of snow and ice, said Jimmy Hightower, road maintenance superintendent.
Sardis and Poplar Springs roads likely will be two of the hardest-hit areas.
"We have to get those priority roads open first," he said.
Crews also will focus on roads leading to main thoroughfares, Hightower said.
State highway crews began at 6 a.m. this morning working in Banks, Habersham, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union and White counties, said Teri Pope, spokeswoman for the Georgia Department of Transportation’s Gainesville-based District 1.
DOT crews are fanned out across the 21-county District 1, she said.
Pope said earlier today that crews were "plowing snow and working to keep it off the roadway, but (snow) is falling fast and furiously."
The DOT mostly has worked to plow the quickly falling snow rather than spread materials.
"We are laying down salt and stone on bridges and other known trouble spots," Pope added.
The DOT advises staying off the road except in emergencies.
DOT crews work first on interstates and then focus on multilane state routes.
"Our last priority is two-lane state routes," Pope said. "Depending on the severity of the situation, (they) may not get any work from DOT crews."
Temperatures Wednesday are forecast to reach 46, according to the National Weather Service. It is also expected to be sunny. By the weekend, temperature could reach 63.