The threat of black ice prompted several north Georgia school systems, including Bartow and Cherokee counties, to cancel classes Friday, but the interstates and main highways around metro Atlanta were mostly ice-free for the morning commute.
The National Weather Service posted a special statement warning of the possibility of black ice through 10 a.m. Friday in 22 counties from Bartow, Cherokee and Forsyth counties northward.
While most metro interstates were clear, the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center reported icing before daybreak on several surface streets and interstate ramps, including the Bells Ferry Road ramp to I-575 southbound, the Spaghetti Junction ramp from I-285 eastbound to I-85 southbound, C.H. James Parkway between Powder Springs and Austell, Tara Boulevard at Ga. 138 and Ga. 92 east of Trickum Road in Cherokee County, where officials said some roads were treacherous in the northern third of the county where heavy snow fell.
Temperatures at 6 a.m. ranged from 26 in Alpharetta, 27 in Dallas and 28 in Dunwoody and Cartersville to 29 in Marietta and Chamblee, 30 in Gainesville and at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and 31 in Peachtree City.
In the mountains, it was 20 in Blairsville and 24 in Blue Ridge at 6 a.m.
Channel 2 meteorologist Karen Minton said skies will be partly cloudy Friday and Saturday before rain moves back into the area on Sunday.
Afternoon highs will be in the mid-40s Friday and Saturday, with lows early Saturday in the low 30s.
There’s a 60 percent chance of rain Sunday, when morning lows in the mid-30s will be followed by afternoon highs in the low 40s.
The rain could be mixed with freezing rain in the northeast corner of the state early Sunday, forecasters said.
Minton is forecasting a big warm-up for early next week, with highs in the low 60s Monday and mid-60s Tuesday. The chance of rain is 60 percent Monday, diminishing to 40 percent Wednesday, Minton said.
Click here for the full forecast and to track changes and here for the full list of closings.
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