Winter came early for Atlantans Friday morning when record-snowfall struck the city and other parts of Georgia.
»RELATED: Georgia DOT: Stay off the roads
As the snowflakes began to cover the streets, school districts and businesses began announcing early dismissals and road conditions became increasingly hazardous for locals.
The snowfall might have come to an end by Saturday, but the weather will continue to impact the metro area throughout the weekend. Here’s what you should know about trekking through the slush.
How much snow fell?
Some parts of Atlanta’s western and northern suburbs had up to a foot of snow Friday and Saturday, Channel 2 reported.
Many parts of Atlanta received at least 6 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service.
Here is a short list of snowfall totals from Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Katie Walls.
Is it safe to drive?
The Georgia Department of Transportation says motorists should still stay off the roads. GDOT spokeswoman Natalie Dale said empty roads will make it easier for crews to clear ice and slush.
“This is a weekend-long event,” Dale said. “We’ll get people back to work on Monday. But for the time being, people should really stay put.”
Those who may want to travel Sunday morning should use caution because bitter cold temperatures leave the threat of black ice on the roads.
“If you go out, you’ll encounter black ice,” Channel 2 Action News meteorologist BradNitz said. “It will be treacherous in spots.”
Are there road closures?
Several state highways on the west side of metro Atlanta remain closed where trees or limbs have fallen as of Saturday morning:
*All westbound lanes on I-20 were closed at Post Road in Douglas County.
*The westbound I-20 entrance ramp at Fairburn Road in Douglas County also was closed because of downed branches.
*Ga. 120 is closed in both directions at the Ga. 120 Connector in Paulding County.
*Ga. 92 is closed in both directions at Indian Trail Drive in Paulding County.
*Ga. 92 is also closed in both directions at Macland Road in Paulding County.
Downed trees and other debris continue to cause havoc on some metro Atlanta roads.
Areas west and northwest have been hit especially hard. All westbound lanes on I-20 were closed at Post Road in Douglas County. The westbound I-20 entrance ramp at Fairburn Road also was closed because of downed branches.
Other state routes were affected by downed trees. In Cobb County, GA. 280 was closed in both directions at Walthall Avenue.
The Georgia Department of Transportation also reported icy conditions on I-575 at Barrett Parkway.
»RELATED: MARTA rides to the rescue as commuters try to avoid gridlocked Atlanta streets
Is MARTA running?
MARTA trains and buses are running on a regular schedule today. The agency says it will monitor weather conditions and adjust service schedules as necessary.
It is also providing updates on route delays due to weather conditions on its social media pages, and it reported on its Twitter account several delays with bus lines Sunday morning.
Will schools be open Monday?
Several metro Atlanta area schools will remain closed on Monday.
Cherokee, Cobb, Marietta, Carroll, Douglas and Paulding County schools will be closed due to lingering affects of Friday’s snowstorm.
Atlanta Public Schools told parents it expects to resume "normal school operations" Monday, but the district cautioned that one of its schools remained without power as of 2 p.m. Sunday. APS officials plan to provide an update by 5 p.m. Sunday about what adjustments it may make to its normal schedule for Monday.
DeKalb County schools will be open, the district said.
What about other businesses?
Many churches and other companies have adjusted schedules for Sunday. Check here for the full list from Channel 2 Action News.
»RELATED: Six Flags cancels massive snowball fight due to ... real snow
How has the weather affected the airport?
Delta Air Lines delayed 27 flights as of Sunday morning, and nine flights were canceled. Despite returning to normal operations Saturday afternoon, the airline canceled about 375 flights Saturday morning and more than 1,000 throughout Friday.
Are there power outages?
While nearly 150,000 people were without power Saturday night, crews made progress overnight and by 5 a.m. Sunday Cobb EMC crews restored service to approximately 64,000 customers, spokeswoman Terri Statham said.
“Approximately 70,000 EMC customers remain without power,” Statham said.
Georgia Power reported 1809 separate outages leaving 44,879 customers without power about 7:30 a.m.
Were there any injuries?
A man walking in the dark Friday evening in the 1300 block of Northwest Drive touched a downed power line and was electrocuted, police said. The man, whose name has not been released, was dead by the time police arrived.
No other injuries or deaths have been reported.
About the Author
