Now that the bulk of this week's snow has come and gone, forecasters say the real struggle for the Tennessee Valley will be combating thawing snow, sub-freezing temperatures and high winds.
Late Thursday, the calls began rolling in. Ice was already forming on numerous local roads, and local police dispatchers constantly were sending police to work small accidents across the region.
"Our main concern is the second hurdle - the icy roads," said WTVC NewsChannel 9 Chief Meteorologist David Glenn. "That's going to be a big problem; not just in the higher elevations but in valleys, too."
Chattanooga police were asking motorists to avoid the roads today because, as treacherous as conditions were late Thursday, they only stood to get worse.
"So far, calls have been what we were expecting, but it could be worse Friday morning," said police spokeswoman Lt. Kim Noorbergen. "We're asking motorists to stay home if they don't have to be on the roads."
There will be no relief from the freezing weather today. The National Weather Service in Morristown, Tenn., reports that, after the snow showers moved through late Thursday evening, another cold front swept into the area. That system will change the wind's direction and usher in another chilly few days.
"The low in the Chattanooga area (Friday) will be around 16 degrees," said Derek Eisentrout, weather service spokesman. "You will have some scattered snow showers ... and those winds will persist, thus your high will only reach the mid-20s."
The wind chill value could fall to the single digits, Mr. Glenn said.
There won't be any relief from cold weather's grip until Sunday afternoon, when temperatures will begin to crawl out of freezing. Monday's forecast, however, calls for the first temperatures reliably above freezing since Jan. 1, Mr. Glenn predicted, with a high of 40 degrees.
Worries about freezing roads overnight Thursday prompted a slew of school closures across the region. Hamilton County Schools were closed, as were more than 20 others throughout the region.
North Georgia school officials nervously eyed weather maps and forecasts all day Thursday as the snowy front skipped through the region a little ahead of schedule.
Across the city, as school-age children were released early, youngsters could be seen rolling the first dustings of snow into snow balls. On Runyan Drive, just off Signal Mountain Road, brothers Todd and Michael Shirley were chopping wood just as the snow began to fall.
"It's easy to stay warm when you're chopping wood," Todd Shirley said, sweat forming under his hat.
Thanks to the snow, UTC student Jo Davidson was ready for a few days in guy heaven.
Roads were too slick to travel and classes were canceled. So he loaded up his car with take-out food - tacos and buffalo wings - and stocked up on movies at the local Blockbuster.
"We expect not to be able to get out and about," he said.
He planned to meet his guy friends for a marathon of "Ocean's 11," "Ocean's 12" and "Ocean's 13," plus three other movies his friends were renting.
Then there would be video games, he said.
"I love it," he said. "It's the second time I have seen snow. I hope classes are canceled tomorrow."
Late Thursday, traffic moving south into North Georgia was progressing at a snail's pace. Motorists said traffic on Interstate 75 moved at about 25 mph and wrecks dotted the highway along both sides.
Dade County Schools Superintendent Patty Priest said that, about 1:30 p.m. Thursday that it was snowing in Trenton as hard as she had it would at 5 p.m. or later. Officials there called off Friday classes just before 4 p.m.
Dalton Public Schools officials announced about noon Thursday that classes would be on a normal schedule Friday, but hedged their bets, saying developments overnight could change those plans.
Most other North Georgia schools delayed decisions on Friday classes until Thursday evening. Catoosa, Walker and Dade canceled Friday classes about 4:30 p.m.
Catoosa County offices will be closed Friday because of the weather, County Manager Mike Helton said Thursday. Offices are expected to be open for normal business hours on Monday, he said.
The Cherokee Regional Library System in Georgia, including the Chickamauga, Rossville, Dade County and LaFayette-Walker County public libraries, is closed Friday.
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The Looney Bin
A few of the party people at the Looney Bin on Wednesday, January 31 for Pat Godwin headlining act.