Foot Of Snow Could Fall In Mountains; Rain Hits Atlanta

From WSB-TV/AM 750 WSB Radio

Snow covered the ground in the north Georgia mountains Friday night, as a cold rain fell in metro Atlanta.

Some areas in north Georgia already had 5 inches of snow on the ground by late Friday night, with more expected.

"What we're looking at is 7-9 inches of snow accumulation and a few spots could see up to a foot of snow," said Severe Weather Team 2 meteorologist Brad Nitz.

Anticipating the snow and icy roads, school officials across north Georgia dismissed students early on Friday. Students in Gilmer, Rabun and Union counties went home early.

"It's a rain, snow, sleet mix in White County, Habersham County and into the Rabun County area," said Severe Weather Team 2 chief meteorologist Glenn Burns on Channel 2 Action News at 11.

"A winter storm warning is in effect through 1 p.m. Saturday for the north Georgia mountains for 3-6 inches of snow and ice," Burns reported. "A winter weather advisory is in effect for our north and northwest suburbs until 1 p.m. Saturday for possibly a half inch of accumulating snow, sleet, and freezing rain. Looks like most of metro Atlanta will see mostly a cold rain, possibly mixed with sleet from time to time."

Some mountain roads were closed by Friday afternoon.

"We're expecting everyone to stay home, at least we're hoping they do," said Sgt. Russell Walker of the Blairsville Police Department. "If you have to be out in the morning, don't drive."

In North Carolina, Interstate 26 near Asheville and Interstate 40 near Black Mountain were shut down Friday night after snow and icy roads caused multiple wrecks. Troopers said they expected the highways to remain closed until early Saturday.

In Western Kentucky, shoppers at Murray Home & Auto store snatched up every available sled in anticipation of a heavy snow, said store manager Chris Burgess. Others grabbed shovels, kerosene heaters and chain saws, mindful of another winter storm a year ago that caused widespread power outages in the region.

"They're trying to be prepared this time," Burgess said.

The Nashville area saw up to 3 inches of snow by late afternoon, and I-40 traffic crawled toward Nashville International Airport for miles because of an accident.

Snowfall was subsiding late Friday afternoon in Memphis after an estimated 3 inches had fallen. Most flights at Memphis International Airport were canceled, and Graceland stopped giving tours of the Elvis Presley home at midmorning.

Memphis officials worried because temperatures were forecast to remain below freezing overnight, posing a threat of icy highways and falling tree limbs.

General contractor Tom Baldwin, 59, said he cut loose his crew at a downtown Nashville building at noon to give them time to get home safely.

"I want to tell people to have some common sense out there," he said. "Only because you have big four-wheel-drive doesn't make you stop any quicker."

The steady snowfall didn't keep Jason Martin from delivering beer to Lonnie's Western Room in Nashville's Printer's Alley.

"When it snows, everyone goes out and buys milk and eggs - and beer," joked Martin, 37. "We're like the Pony Express."

The Texas Department of Transportation closed I-40 east and west of Amarillo on Friday but later reopened it. Downed power lines and icy, dangerous road conditions also temporarily closed a 50-mile stretch of I-44 southwest of Oklahoma City and parts of I-40 in far western Oklahoma and eastern New Mexico on Thursday.

The storm was good for business at the Days Inn and Suites in Guymon, Okla., where stranded travelers waited for road crews to clear U.S. Highway 54 of ice and snow, employee Rocky Bhagavan said. Sixteen of the hotel's 35 rooms were occupied at the motel in the Oklahoma Panhandle, he said - twice as many as usual.

"Most of the travelers decided to leave this morning. As soon as they got to the Texas border they had to come back," Bhagavan said.

Heide Brandes, spokeswoman for the Salvation Army in Oklahoma City, said the organization's men's shelter has been full since the slow-moving storm moved into the area Thursday. She said some of the 90 men in the shelter are homeless and sought relief when temperatures dropped to the mid-20s.

Flights were canceled Friday morning at airports in Oklahoma City and Little Rock, Ark.

Arkansas State Police warned people who were driving to work on Friday to be prepared to be stranded. Spokesman Bill Sadler encouraged motorists to bring blankets, water and snacks and to make plans for an overnight stay.