The Georgia Department of Transportation is urging motorists to exercise extreme caution overnight and tomorrow morning as winter weather is in the current forecast for parts of North Georgia.
“We are continuously monitoring the weather and the forecast as winter weather is predicted. Snow, black ice and fallen trees are possible overnight and tomorrow morning. Before you head out on the roads tomorrow please check the weather and road conditions, especially if you live or travel to mountainous areas,” Kent Sager, district engineer at the DOT office in Cartersville, said in a press release.
Although Gwinnett is not in the areas considered most at risk, wind advisories are in force for the county until midnight. The following information was given by DOT as possible trouble locations to be aware of.
• Bridges as black ice forms there first and can reform quickly
• Highest elevations or gaps in Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Dawson, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Lumpkin, Murray, Towns, Union, Walker, White and Whitfield counties
• Fallen trees, root systems are weak because of the drought and high winds are expected so trees across the roadway and pulling down power lines or traffic signals.
“Weather reports call for up to one inch of snow in the higher elevations of the Mountains. Winds gusts up to 35 miles per hour are also possible. So we encourage all motorists to stay off the roadways until after daybreak if possible. If you must be on the roads, please exercise extreme caution particularly as you approach bridges or higher elevations,” Sager said.
DOT has said it will monitor conditions overnight and respond as needed, if needed, overnight based on information from local law enforcement and information from the National Weather Service.
Georgia DOT urges travelers to exercise caution and call 511 for updated information on roadway conditions before getting on the road during a winter weather event. Georgia 511 is a free phone service that provides real-time traffic and travel information statewide, including winter weather closures, reports of icing or other hazardous conditions on interstates and state routes. Callers also can transfer to operators to request assistance or report incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More information is available at www.511ga.org.
