Snow in Atlanta 2011: Surveying the Damage

It's Monday morning and the sun is coming up.  Time to survey the damage from last night's winter storm.

It's rare in Atlanta to get some snow that will stick on the ground for more than a couple hours, but we go it last night along with some ice.

The roads are bad and it is very cold out.  The TV news crews are telling people not to go out unless they absolutely have to. 

The worst looks like it is over, but we are stuck inside for the day.

Update on Monday, January 10, 2011 at 8:45AM by Rick C.Limpert

Side note:  Usually when there is a snow day the area malls are packed.  I've always said that they should build all schools near malls because on snow days from school, the kids and teachers may not be able to get to school, but they sure can find the way to the mall.

Well, the snow and ice were so bad, even the maor Atlanta area malls are closed today.  What's everyone to do now?

Georgia at a Standstill

Over 5 inches of snow has shut down schools and businesses in Metro Atlanta this early morning.

This was taken at 11 pm last night.  More has since fallen.

A little more snow and some freezing rain is in the forecast for today.  Roads are dicey and motorists are advised to keep the cars parked today and be safe.

Georgia Braces for a Major Winter Storm

The closings have started in the Atlanta area, and there is a serious run on milk, bread, and bottled water at local grocery stores.

Major airlines like Detla, AirTran and American began canceling flights and at least two state highways in North Georgia were already closed Friday night as a "significant" winter storm barreled it's way into the state, bringing with it ice and maybe as much as a foot of snow, with the promise of more to come.

On Friday, GDOT trucks were loaded and outfitted with snow plows and spreads. GDOT has alerted more than 200 members of its metro staff that they may need to come in Sunday, and hundreds more were on call statewide.

The National Weather Service issued a watch for a "significant" winter storm  for much of the state for Sunday night through Monday night.

The National Weather Service said the snow will start Sunday evening and continue through early Monday morning.

"Initially, areas from Carrollton to metro Atlanta to Washington will  mix with or change over to sleet,  limiting accumulations to three to five inches of snow and sleet," the Weather Service said. "North of this area, accumulations will be higher, with five to seven inches expected with the higher elevations remaining all snow, resulting in locally higher accumulation amounts."

Delta Air Lines on Friday began making preparations for flight cancellations, and also is allowing customers whose flights are affected by the storm to change their schedules without fees.

A Delta spokesperson said in a statement that beginning Sunday night, "flight delays are expected at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport as a result of winter weather, and Delta will proactively reduce flight schedules to minimize delays."

Bergen  suggested travelers check with websites of individual airlines for flight status or check www.fly.faa.gov for real-time information on airport conditions.

More updates to follow as the weather forecasts and radar get more detailed readings.

A White Christmas and Travel Problems in Dixie

It's the first White Christmas in Atlanta in over 100 years.

The snowfall that began Saturday morning will deposit 1 to 3 inches on metro Atlanta, 2 to 4 inches in the northern counties.

Sunday's high will be just 33,  and Monday's just 34.  Above-freezing temperatures -- low 40s -- may return Tuesday, and loosen winter's icy grip on local roadways.

Heavy snow weighed down tree branches, causing them to fall on power lines in north Georgia. About 400 customers were without power, according to the Georgia Electric Member Corporation.

Saturday will start out with a wintry mix of sleet and rain that should change to snow as dry Arctic air collides with warm clouds from the Gulf of Mexico. The wintry mix should cease by Sunday afternoon, with a a high of only 38 forecast.

Just the threat of snow has wreaked havoc on travelers arriving to and departing from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The white Christmas holiday could test travelers, icing roads and delaying flights. Delta Air Lines announced Friday that it canceled 300 flights out of Atlanta on Christmas Day and warned additional cancellations could follow. Passengers are advised to check their flight status before heading to the airport on Delta and other airlines.

Atlanta Hit by Ice

Things may be improving this morning, but some roads are still covered by ice in Metro Atlanta.

The Wednesday night commute produced scores of accidents all over the area.  In Cherokee County, roads had produced 90 accidents between 4 p.m. and 5:45 p.m.

It started with snow that fell across metro Atlanta Wednesday afternoon, as the wet weather began its advance on the city.

There were reports of snow flurries in all the major metro counties around 3 p.m., including Gwinnett, Cobb, Fulton and DeKalb.

Among the roads closed early Thursday is the section of Ga. 400 south of the toll plaza.

Temperatures are beginning to rise above freezing in some areas but the state Department of Transportation says driving conditions are expected to remain treacherous.