Atlanta and North Georgia are dealing with icy, slippery roads from the winter storm

ATLANTA – Winter weather gripped North Georgia on Friday, leaving behind snow, ice and treacherous road conditions. As temperatures continued to drop Saturday night, freezing rain and refreezing on roads posed significant hazards, closing out the weekend.

FOX 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Laurann Robinson says most of the main roads appear to be fairly clear, but less traveled areas may still have some slush on the roads.

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Waking up to icy, slippery roads

While precipitation had largely ended by Friday evening, forecasters warned that icy conditions and high winds would continue to pose challenges through Saturday.

Icy roads were the biggest concern, especially in areas that briefly rose above freezing earlier in the day. The combination of freezing temperatures and gusty winds also increased the risk of power outages as ice-covered tree limbs and branches fell.

“Temperatures are a degree or two below freezing in some areas, and a degree or two above in others,” said a meteorologist monitoring the situation Friday night. “More importantly, the wind has increased, potentially causing more trees and branches to fall under the weight of the ice.”

In fact, a Marietta woman told FOX 5 Atlanta that she was watching television in her bedroom when a tree suddenly crashed onto her home, sending branches through the ceiling.

“I heard a noise and a crack and I thought it was a bit like ice or snow falling from the roof. The next second the branches came through the roof. It was a bit like the whole room went white. There was trash everywhere,” said Emma Fulloon. “I couldn’t tell what happened or if more happened, but it just happened so fast.”

The tree also damaged Fulloon’s chimney, but she said she was thankful it wasn’t worse. It looks like her family will be able to stay in their home despite the damage.

Just before 8 p.m The city of Atlanta announced that Georgia Power had restored service to 97% of customers who lost power during the storm.

“Atlanta currently has 240 outages that should be restored by midnight,” a city spokesman said.

Things seemed to calm down Forsyth County, also, where the county Emergency & 911 canceled the Emergency Center that had been in place during Friday’s heavy rainfall. Meanwhile, Forysth County Government continued to urge motorists to stay off the potentially icy roads.

Cobb County Government also warned its residents of dangerous road conditions on Saturday and said its facilities, including parks and libraries, would remain closed today.

MARTA resumes bus service

Limited bus service by MARTA resumed Saturday night. Drivers picked up the following “important routes”:

• 8 North Druid Hills Road
• 19 Clairmont/ W. Howard Avenue
• 40 Peachtree Street / Downtown
• 110 Peachtree Road/ Buckhead
• 111 Snapfinger Woods
• 123 Church Street
• 196 Upper Riverdale

Rail services currently run on a weekend schedule and the mobility service will only operate in emergency situations when conditions permit.

Streetcar service is still suspended.

Real-time service information can be found on MARTA’s social media accounts – @MARTAservice and @MARTAtransit on X (Twitter) and @MARTAtransit on Facebook.

How much snow fell in Atlanta?

The storm brought 1 to 5 inches of snow across North Georgia earlier in the day, with 3 inches recorded at the FOX 5 studios in Atlanta. Officially at Hartsfield-Jackson, Atlanta recorded 2.1 inches of snow.

How much snow in Atlanta?: The preliminary snowfall totals are from North Georgia

The blizzard delivered varied totals across the metro area, with 1 to 3 inches on the east and west sides and up to 4 inches in Carrollton and Greene County. Ice accumulations also created problems with up to a quarter inch of ice in parts of metro Atlanta and isolated heavier amounts along I-85. “That ice hangs on trees and power lines, and when the wind picks up, the outages increase,” Chandley explained.

Black ice and refreezing

Chandley noted that road temperatures throughout the region were hovering around freezing. “Even areas slightly above freezing are dangerous and we urge drivers to use caution,” she said.

Chandley warned of worsening conditions as strong winds, gusting up to 25 mph, could cause more power outages on Saturday. The extended forecast showed temperatures dropping into the twenties and lower 20s from Saturday night into Sunday morning. “It’s bitterly cold,” Chandley said. “The freezing temperatures and icy roads make for a storm preparedness day tomorrow, even without additional precipitation.”

Forecasters urged residents to stay off the roads if possible. Limited melting is expected on Saturday, with highs in the mid-30s before temperatures drop again.

“This is a dangerous situation,” Chandler said. “Stay safe and stay tuned for updates as we navigate this winter weather event.”

Even colder Sunday

By Sunday morning, widespread temperatures in the teens will cover North Georgia, although the cold air is not expected to stick around all day. Forecasters are predicting a warming trend in the afternoon, with temperatures reaching the 40s on Sunday and staying there all week.

“This storm started as sleet and quickly turned to snow,” the meteorologist said. “The snow was beautiful and although the ice on branches might look picturesque, it has caused significant problems for power lines and road safety.”

Beginning Saturday, residents are advised to use caution while driving, especially in the early morning hours when the ice is most likely to persist. For those without power, the increase in winds and falling temperatures can pose additional challenges.

The next few days will bring cold mornings but milder afternoons offering some relief from the harsh conditions brought by the storm.

Stay updated with the latest from download the FREE FOX 5 Storm Team App and the following @FOX5StormTeam on Twitter

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