For already the second time in the young year, winter weather is causing cancellations across Washington County.
A winter storm warning is officially in effect from 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday through 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday.
According to the Washington County Emergency Management Agency, snowfall and mixed precipitation is currently expected. Snowfall measurements could accumulate from two to four inches with a topping light ice glaze.
With a daytime high of around 36 degrees, snow showers are likely after 3:00 p.m. today. Dropping as low as 21 degrees overnight, a 50% chance of snow showers before 1:00 a.m. may continue the snow accumulation.
The EMA states to plan for slippery road conditions caused by the frozen precipitation from Tuesday afternoon until midday on Wednesday.
Precipitous impacts on roadways can be immediately felt during a winter storm – meaning the early effects of the ice and snow can become dangerous even prior to inches of accumulation.
On Monday, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced a State of Emergency for all 159 Georgia counties, allowing for the mobilization of extra resources and 250 Georgia National Guard troops.
The Georgia Department of Transportation began brine treatments on all interstates and priority routes on Sunday morning that continued through Monday. Brine is a solution of salt and water applied to roadways that decreases the probability of precipitation freezing and sticking to roads.
Yesterday, Washington County Public Schools announced a shift to at-home learning over the next two days.
Following close communication with local officials, the school district has cancelled or postponed all extracurricular activities on Tuesday and Wednesday. Students do have school assignments to complete over the two days. Teachers are accessible via email and the ParentSquare app during school hours.
In-school classes are predicted to resume on Thursday.
Oconee Fall Line Technical College is also cancelling classes for Tuesday and Wednesday with a tentative Thursday restart.
Brentwood School has cancelled classes for today. A decision on school for Wednesday will be made on Tuesday.
County offices are opening under normal hours today, but will close early at 12:00 p.m. and observe a delayed start on Wednesday – opening at 1:00 p.m.
The City of Sandersville has closed all non-emergency departments for Tuesday.
Ryland Environmental, the city’s trash pick-up service, will not run routes today or tomorrow. Trash trucks will resume on January 23 with Thursday routes, but will also deploy additional trucks to retroactively empty the bins of Monday and Tuesday pick-up addresses.
With temperatures predicted to rise just above freezing during the high-point on Wednesday afternoon, snow and ice could remain on the ground for most, if not all, of the day.
This could result in Wednesday overnight re-freezing of leftover Tuesday precipitation, as tomorrow’s nighttime temps are forecast to drop into the low 20’s. In turn, early Thursday could also be effected by the Tuesday weather before lower 40’s temperatures end any remaining threat.
The Georgia Emergency Management Agency is reminding residents to recall the Five P’s of Winter Weather Preparedness during this time:
1.) Protect People: Stay warm, dry, and indoors when possible. Provide extra care to elderly neighbors.
2.) Protect Pets: Bring pets inside or make outdoor warmth arrangements for larger animals.
3.) Protect Plants: Cover cold-sensitive plants to help them survive dangerous temperatures.
4.) Protect Pipes: Cover outdoor pipes and allow faucets to slowly drip to prevent water from freezing and bursting the pipes. Remember that a pipe can still burst in the following hours, even after temps have returned to above freezing.
5.) Practice Fire Safety: Use only electric space heaters with automatic shut-off switches. Keep heat sources at least three feet away from furniture and drapes. Only utilize generators outdoors and at least 20 feet from doors, windows, or vents to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Check and install a working carbon monoxide detector and smoke alarm.