State and local authorities are telling motorists to get home and stay there after snow blanketed a large section of North Georgia Saturday.
Snowfall began to fall just after 8 a.m. in the Gainesville area and stayed steady through the early afternoon hours.
Hall County Fire Services Division Chief Zacahry Brackett said afternoon temperatures rose and caused most of the snow on the roads to melt, but he said things could become dangerous again after nightfall.
"We're anticipating, based on guidance from the National Weather Service in Peachtree City, for our lows tonight to hit 29 (degrees), which is going to cause the runoff and the water that's left on the roads to refreeze," Brackett said.
The Georgia Department of Transportation began treating state highways and interstates at 7:00 a.m. according to spokeswoman Katie Strickland. She said crews will continue work overnight.
Brackett and Strickland both said early indications show the conditions could improve Sunday, allowing for safe traveling by the afternoon hours. Strickland said crews are still preparing to work beyond that point.
"As we see the forecast improve, we may be able to stand down some after lunch tomorrow," Strickland said. "That is not the current plan, the current plan is to stay at it until we're told to stand down."
Brackett said people should stay off the roads if possible.
"Just stay at home. Drive carefully if you absolutely have to go somewhere, but we would not advise any travel after dark tonight until about lunch tomorrow," Brackett said.
The following roads in Lumpkin County are impassable, according to Sheriff Stacy Jarrard:
- Cavender Creek Road
- Town Creek Church Road
- Calhoun Road
- Crown Mountain Drive
- Morrison Moore Parkway (east and west)
- N. Grove Street
- Auraria Road
- Burnt Stand Road
- S. Chestatee Street
- Highway 52 West
- Red Oak Flats Road
- Numerous vehicles have been abandoned on Georgia 400 in Lumpkin County
White County Director of Public Safety David Murphy said most roads in the county are dangerous and becoming impassable. Richard Russell Scenic Highway in the mountains of White and Union counties was closed early Saturday morning.
Local roads in most other North Georgia counties should also be considered dangerous, according to law enforcement.
