The bulk of this week’s snow is expected to fall this afternoon and into this evening, but the real danger comes Friday when chapping winds and freezing temperatures will freeze melted snow on roads.
That’s the word from local forecasters as some schools were already planning closures and early dismissal today with widespread closures later in the week expected.
“The secondary issue here is the cold,” said NewsChannel 9 Chief Meteorologist David Glenn. “On Friday, the high temperatures may not get out of the upper 20s, and that morning the windshield values will be in the single digits.”
Hamilton County Schools, on Wednesday, were delaying any decision on school closures. But Wednesday evening nearly 20 school systems in the area had already called of classes or planned to release students just before the snow was predicted to begin falling.
White stuff could start falling about midday to mid-afternoon. David Gaffin, a forecaster for the National Weather Service in Morristown, Tenn., said Wednesday that the temperatures could go above freezing for a good part of the morning.
Snow could start falling by around 2 p.m. and colder temperatures move in with it, he said.
“We’ll go right back to the Arctic air mass,” Mr. Gaffin said.
The Tennessee Valley should see about an inch accumulation with two inches in the higher elevations such as Signal and Lookout mountains, he said. Local forecasters agree, with some predicting as much as 3 inches in the valley and 4 inches on the mountains.
Higher elevations to the north and east could see a half foot, said WRCB-TV’s Paul Barys. Mr. Glenn said the smaller communities like Sequatchie, Bledsoe and Polk counties will likely struggle with the snow, ice and poor road conditions through the week and into the weekend.
Roads that are well-traveled will be salted and the continual traffic provides heat, he said, but quiet roads could have poor conditions.
“All of us need to use some caution, because some black ice may form on the roads,” Mr. Glenn said. “Everyone needs to use extreme caution Thursday evening and Friday morning.”
Rob Hander, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Peachtree City, Ga., said he thinks some of the higher elevations could get up to three inches.
“What we’re expecting is a one- to two-inch accumulation in Northwest Georgia,” he said.
The possibility of snow at mid-day has left school officials scratching their heads on when to close school. Since it could actually be warmer than expected in the morning, Ms. Clark said, the school system plans to have buses running.
“As of right now, schools on in Hamilton County are open,” she said.
Schools in North Georgia are also planning to be open, although administrators are monitoring the weather outside.
Most North Georgia school officials said Wednesday that their students would attend classes today, but hedged on predictions on whether classes would be held Friday.
Walker County Schools spokeswoman Elaine Womack said that, since snowfall is predicted later in the day, officials will keep an eye on weather forecasts today to determine whether schools will be open Friday.
Chickamauga City and Whitfield County officials said they’re more nervous about Thursday night and Friday morning when the precipitation in its various forms refreezes.
Dade County Schools Superintendent Patty Priest said her students will be in class today but planned to attend a 4 a.m. weather conference just to make sure.
“I don’t think we’ll be able to go on Friday from what they’re saying,” Ms. Priest said. “Whatever’s out there, it will refreeze.”
Whitfield County, Ga., school officials said they planned to close early today. Elementary schools will dismiss at 11 a.m. with middle and high schools closing at noon, said Eric Beavers, school spokesman.
Bradley County, Tenn., schools will also close early at 1 p.m., school officials said.
CREWS PREP FOR SNOW
Jimmy Templeton, director of citywide services for the city of Chattanooga, said the city had begun preliminary steps to deal with snow and ice.
“We’re starting to put brine out on some of the overpasses,” he said.
If there is accumulation, then city workers would go “around the clock,” working snow routes and making sure city streets were clear for traffic.
If there is more than three inches on the road, city workers would start spreading salt and sand, he said.
“We haven’t been around the clock on a snow event in a long time,” Mr. Templeton said.
Dade County, Ga., Emergency Services Director Alex Case said the department has seven trucks ready to roll out with road salt and gravel and has extra 911 operators on call. Sometimes during snow and ice, the number of non-emergency calls to the 911 center can triple, he added.
“When the white stuff starts falling, people start panicking,” Mr. Case said.
Buzz Weiss, a spokesman for the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, said they don’t expect heavy accumulation, but in a state that rarely sees snowfall, “certainly any amount is problematic.”
Grocery stores also have seen runs of customers as residents stock up on bread, milk and necessities.
Max Bates, store manager for Bi-Lo on Signal Mountain Road, said sales were up on Tuesday and Wednesday. He said the store stocked up for the snow.
“We’re just trying to make sure our vendors are bringing extra bread and milk,” he said.
Brenda Reid, spokeswoman for Publix, said people were stocking up on bread and milk at their stores. She said she also heard people were stocking up on roasts and stew meat, or “comfort foods.”
“People are preparing to be snowed in,” she said.
Staff Writers Ben Benton and Andy Johns contributed to this report.
SCHOOL CLOSINGS
Bledsoe County Schools – Closed today
Bowman Hills School – Early closing at 1 p.m. today
Bradley County Schools – Early closing at 1 p.m. today
Catoosa County Public Schools – Closed today
DeKalb County, Ala. Schools – Closed today
Fannin County Schools – Early Closing at 1 p.m.
Fort Payne City Schools – Closed today
Murray County Schools – Early closing at 11:30 a.m. today
Northeast Alabama Community College – Closed today
Our Lady of Perpetual Help School – Closed today
Polk County Schools – Closed today
REACH Adult Center – No night classes
Richard Hardy Memorial School – Closed today
Shenandoah Baptist Academy – Early closing at 11:30 a.m. today
Walker County Schools – Closed today
Whitfield County Schools – Early closing at 11 a.m. today
ON THE WEB
For the latest information on school closings, go to timesfreepress.com.
SNOW PHOTOS
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