No snow? Think again

Snow closed area schools and snarled traffic Friday, and the weather woes aren't over yet, said WTVC NewsChannel 9 forecaster David Glenn.

Temperatures won't climb higher than the mid-30s today, with many areas in the higher elevations at or below freezing, he said.

"It keeps things dangerous through Sunday," he said, noting the low for Sunday morning will be in the 20s.

Late Friday the snow began to change to rain, which Mr. Glenn described as "a true definition of a wintry mix." He said the light sleet, snow and rain should continue today, with scattered bursts of snow throughout the afternoon.

Meteorologists with the National Weather Service in Morristown, Tenn., and Peachtree City, Ga., predicted up to 4 inches of snow Friday up until about midnight for Southeast Tennessee and parts of North Georgia.

School systems in Southeast Tennessee and parts of North Georgia closed early Friday, with some shutting down around midday. Most school officials said Friday they would wait until Sunday, at the earliest, to decide whether to hold classes Monday.

"We'll evaluate the temperature and try to make the call pretty early Sunday," Marion County, Tenn., Director of Schools Mark Griffith said late Friday.

In Hamilton County, Tenn., and Whitfield County, Ga., afterschool child care and all evening extracurricular activities were canceled Friday. Whitfield officials also said all weekend activities are canceled.

DRIVING CONDITIONS

As snow and ice covered the city's roadways and accidents piled up, city Public Works employees continued working through Friday evening and into the morning to monitor weather and road conditions.

Director of Citywide Services Jim Templeton said workers will be available "around the clock as long as needed" to keep roads safe and passable. City trucks treated the roadways with brine throughout the day and into the night Friday to keep drivers safe.

Mr. Templeton said what's on safety officials' minds now is the temperature.

"Of course, if it drops down, we may wind up with ice, and ice is another situation you have to deal with," he said.

Trucks will spread a mixture of salt and sand on the roads, giving traction to cars and melting the ice, he said.

"If you have to get out, drive with caution and watch your speed," Mr. Templeton said. "In icy conditions, it's best to avoid getting out. Just stay in."

TRAFFIC HEADACHES

Emergency workers and sheriff's deputies had their hands full Friday afternoon as snow continued to cover the roads, highways and streets, making some impassable. Roberts Mill Road, the W Road and Signal Mountain Road all were closed due to inclement weather, officials said.

According to Sgt. Jerri Weary, spokeswoman for the Chattanooga Police Department, city police dealt with 95 traffic incidents from 2:45 to 6:45 p.m. Friday.

As of late Friday, all interstate and state routes were open and maintenance crews were "on the job all night long," said Tennessee Department of Transportation spokeswoman Jennifer Flynn. Officials in the Hamilton County Highway Department said their biggest concern is ice on the roadways. Trucks will continue to salt primary and secondary roads into the day today.

Motorists and law enforcement officials in North Georgia also reported dangerous, icy roads and extremely slippery conditions. Officials in Catoosa, Dade, Walker and Whitfield counties said road conditions led to dozens of accidents and workers are trying to keep the roads safe.

"We're trying to clear everything off the roads; that's why we've been doing the plowing," said Catoosa County Public Works Director Chuck Taylor, noting the trucks began plowing about noon Friday. "In the morning hours it's going to freeze; that's when the sand comes in handy."

COMMUNITY AFFECT

Local organizations benefiting the homeless are extending their hours to provide people with safe, warm places to stay in the freezing conditions.

Friday the Chattanooga Salvation Army received more than 100 blankets collected by students at Belvoir Christian Academy.

"It came at a great time," said Kimberly George, director of marketing for the Salvation Army. "I'm glad they thought of the homeless even when it was warmer."

Ms. George said the Salvation Army's Day Center has adjusted its hours to stay open later, and it "may not close at all." The center also will take in more individuals overnight than usual, she said.

About 115 people have been staying at the Chattanooga Community Kitchen each night since Wednesday, said Charlie Hughes, the organization's executive director. He said the cold weather prompted the organization to keep its doors open overnight, providing men, women and children with blankets, pillows and a nightly snack.

Mr. Hughes said the shelter will be open tonight, but he has yet to determine if it will be open Sunday night.

"We have to look at not just the current weather, but we have to look at what's happened in the days past and what's expected in the days ahead," he said. "We're bringing people in who would normally be sleeping outside on the ground. If it's been cold or damp and might warm up on Sunday or Monday, we might still open up because we don't want people outside on the cold, wet ground."

Staff writer Ben Benton contributed to this story.

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