Residents across the Southeast and in North Georgia are facing a treacherous Monday morning as plummeting temperatures and high winds turn the aftermath of a major winter storm into a deep freeze.
LIVE BLOG: Georgia winter storm road closures & conditions
While heavy precipitation has ended, temperatures in the 20s and wind chills in the single digits have created widespread hazards, including black ice and lingering power outages. In Alpharetta, ice accumulations of up to half an inch have been reported on power lines, adding significant weight and complicating restoration efforts for thousands of customers.
RELATED: Georgia Winter Storm: Officials urge caution on roadways as refreeze expected
Road conditions vary significantly by location and road type. While major highways like the Stone Mountain Freeway and I-85 remain in relatively good shape due to proactive treatment by DOT crews, secondary roads in Gainesville, Cumming, and Braselton are described as “night and day” compared to the interstates.
In Jackson County, Highway 53 and various exit ramps are rapidly refreezing, turning seemingly wet patches into dangerous ice. Neighborhood streets in Hoschton remain buried under slush and ice, making travel nearly impossible for local residents.
Public safety officials continue to urge caution, specifically warning that bridges and overpasses are the first to freeze.
RELATED: Georgia Winter Storm: Current list of cancellations, closures, changes
Icy conditions have also been reported at the roundabout near Hembree Road and Houze Road in Roswell.
Although high winds may help dry out some road moisture later today, the region remains under a Winter Weather Advisory. With temperatures expected to drop even further tonight, the threat of black ice is likely to persist through Tuesday morning. For now, authorities praise the community for staying off the roads, which has allowed emergency teams to manage dozens of storm-related calls and focus on restoring essential services.
Travel misery continues for some at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, where the winter storm has caused over 1,200 cancellations in the last 24 hours. As of this morning, an additional 200 flights have been scrubbed today, with 79 active delays as crews work around the clock to de-ice planes and treat frozen runways.
The travel disruptions have created a significant “stranded” population at the airport. Frustrated passengers reported being stuck on the tarmac for hours before their flights were ultimately canceled. Finding a way out of the airport has proven equally difficult; local hotels are fully booked, and ride-share services like Uber and Lyft remain limited due to hazardous road conditions. Even travelers who successfully landed are finding themselves stuck at the terminal as regional shuttles—including those to the Athens area—have been suspended.
ORIGINAL STORY
A major winter storm that hammered Georgia with freezing rain and heavy ice has left thousands without power and officials warning of a dangerous “deep freeze” overnight. While temperatures in some areas rose slightly Sunday afternoon, causing some melting and slush, meteorologists warn that a drop into the mid-20s by Monday morning will refreeze wet roadways into treacherous ice.
Georgia Power reported that more than 10,000 personnel, including crews from other states, are staged to respond to new outages as the wind picks up and ice-laden trees continue to snap.
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Power crews battle downed trees in metro Atlanta
In the Morningside community of Atlanta, utility crews worked late into the night to restore electricity after a massive tree crashed onto power lines at approximately 2p.m. The incident knocked out power to multiple homes.
One resident described the moment the storm’s toll became real: “I said we’ve got power… and all of a sudden I heard a big crack… then I saw sparks and everything and then the power went out”. While power was restored to that neighborhood by 9 p.m., similar hazards were reported across the region, including a tree on Fairground Street that briefly cut power to the Marietta Square and the Marietta Police Department.
SEE ALSO: GDOT warns motorists of black ice before overnight refreeze
North Georgia mountains face hazardous secondary roads
Conditions in Lumpkin and Habersham counties remained “extremely hazardous” late Sunday night despite major thoroughfares being cleared by the Georgia Department of Transportation. Officials in Habersham County reported more than 50 roads closed due to downed trees and power lines.
While main roads like Highway 441 appeared fairly clear Sunday night, secondary roads remained encased in ice. Many roads remained impassable on Sunday evening. In Helen, dramatic video captured a tree snapping “like a toothpick” under the weight of the ice.
Travel chaos at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
The winter weather ripple effect hit Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport hard, with more than 1,000 flights canceled and over 300 delays on Sunday. Passengers, many traveling from warmer climates like California and Arizona, found themselves stranded as hotels across the city booked up.
One traveler on a Denver-bound flight shared the frustration of waiting on the tarmac for two hours before the flight was finally scrapped. “Hotels are booked. Uh, we are essentially just stuck,” the traveler said. Airport officials warned that an additional 160 flights scheduled for Monday have already been canceled as crews continue to treat runways and taxiways.
UGA and local schools announce closures
The University of Georgia in Athens announced there will be no school Monday for students following the heavy icing in Clarke County. While college students were seen earlier in the day making the most of the weather by sledding on hills using cardboard and plastic, officials are taking the “hunker down” approach as the refreeze begins.
Along with UGA, Clarke County schools and local government offices will remain closed Monday.
