Georgia Ice Storm Aftermath: Recovery underway, hard freeze looms tonight
Midday Monday weather and road conditions
Midday Monday weather and road conditions update from the FOX 5 Atlanta team after winter and ice storm moves through North Georgia.
ATLANTA - As of noon on Monday, the winter storm's heavy precipitation has exited the Eastern Seaboard, leaving Georgia with bright sunshine but dangerously low temperatures. While the sun is helping to melt ice and create puddles on main highways, a Cold Weather Advisory remains in effect for North Georgia. According to FOX 5 Atlanta Storm Team, this midday "thaw" is temporary; as the sun sets, a dose of polar air will trigger a significant downturn, turning today's slush into tonight's "hard freeze."
The aftermath of the ice storm continues to impact infrastructure across metro Atlanta. In Lakewood Heights, massive trees toppled by the weight of the ice have blocked streets like Clare Drive, snapping power and internet lines. Residents reported being without power for over seven hours as crews worked to clear debris and repair fencing damaged by falling limbs. While Georgia Power has restored many in the metro area, thousands of customers in the northeastern and western corners of the state remain in the dark.
Road conditions have improved on primary interstates due to heavy salting by GDOT and the help of radiant solar heat. However, secondary and neighborhood roads in areas like Braselton, Hoschton, and Commerce remain treacherous. Officials warn that shaded areas and bridges will not dry out before temperatures plummet into the low-to-mid teens tonight. Businesses in Commerce, including the outlet malls, remain closed today with plans to reopen Tuesday morning as the region braces for one more night of single-digit wind chills.
ORIGINAL STORY
First look at Monday morning conditions
Team coverage of the winter storm continues in North Georgia with a first look at current weather, road conditions and more.
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
What we know:
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.
Quiet roads to start on Monday morning
As of 7:30 a.m., traffic has been reportedly light on local interstates and roads in metro Atlanta.
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.
Monday morning conditions at Hartsfield-Jackson airport
A look at the current conditions at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport after a massive winter and ice storm forced thousands of delays and cancellations across the country on Sunday. FOX 5 Atlanta Kaitlyn Pratt reporting.
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.
What we know:
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.
Gainesville roads clear following proactive brine treatment
In Gainesville, FOX 5's Tara Jabour reports that while freezing rain turned to cold rain earlier in the evening, the city's main thoroughfares, like Jesse Jewell Parkway, are remarkably clear. Hall County crews have been working non-stop, deploying plows and proactively treating roads with salt, brine, and slush removal to prevent a deep freeze as temperatures drop overnight. Interestingly, many utility poles are starting to thaw and drip, though a thick "clear coating of ice" still remains on many trees and bushes in the area. Despite the conditions, many residents with 4-wheel drive vehicles were seen running errands, expressing gratitude for the nearly week-long advanced warning that allowed them to prepare.
SEE ALSO: LIVE UPDATES
Power crews battle downed trees in metro Atlanta
What we know:
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.
Morningside power restored after massive tree falls
In Atlanta's Morningside community, residents near Wildwood and Wellbourne faced a sudden blackout after a massive tree collapsed at approximately 2 p.m. One resident described hearing a "big crack" followed by visible sparks just before the power failed. Despite the hazardous conditions, utility crews worked through the evening, successfully restoring electricity to the neighborhood by 9 p.m. Residents expressed deep appreciation for the Atlanta Police and power crews who secured the area and labored in the cold to bring the lights back on.
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
Georgia Power restores 70,000 customers after storm
Georgia Power has successfully restored electricity to approximately 70,000 customers following the winter storm, with over 10,000 personnel, including out-of-state crews, mobilized to address remaining outages. While crews are working quickly where conditions are safe, officials warn that picking winds could cause further issues overnight. Highlighting the danger, dramatic footage from Helen, Georgia, shows a tree snapping "like a toothpick" under the sheer weight of ice, which can reach up to 2,500 pounds on a single 30-foot tree
North Georgia mountains face hazardous secondary roads
What we know:
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.
Dahlonega braces for deep freeze as slush turns to ice
In Lumpkin County, FOX 5's Tyler Fingert reports from a deceptively calm Dahlonega where temperatures have temporarily warmed, leading to a significant afternoon thaw. While major thoroughfares like State Route 400 are currently clear, officials warn that a "deep freeze" in the mid-20s tonight will turn existing slush and puddles into treacherous black ice. Approximately 50 utility crews are currently staged at the Dahlonega Walmart, prepared to respond as the weight of remaining ice on large trees threatens to cause a spike in power outages overnight.
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
What we know:
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.
1,000+ flights canceled at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has seen a surge in passenger traffic despite over 1,000 flight cancellations and 300 delays caused by severe winter weather. Families are facing extreme frustration, with some travelers stuck on the tarmac for hours before their flights were ultimately scrubbed. With local hotels fully booked and rideshare services like Uber and Lyft limited by road conditions, many stranded passengers, including those with small children, are resorting to MARTA to find shelter while they wait to rebook.
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
What we know:
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.
UGA and Clarke Schools closed Monday amid icy wedge
As a cold air wedge entrenched itself over Athens, the region experienced significant icing that led to widespread school and government closures. While the winter weather brought hazardous conditions, University of Georgia (UGA) students found light-hearted ways to enjoy their unexpected day off.
Along with UGA, Clarke County schools and local government offices will remain closed Monday.
The Source: This article contains original reporting by the FOX 5 Atlanta and FOX 5 Storm Teams.