Snow And Bitterly Cold Temperatures Expected In The CSRA
Snow and bitterly cold weather is reportedly on the way to the CSRA….again. But how much is still anybody’s guess.
A winter storm watch has been issued for Emanuel, Glascock, Hancock, Jefferson, Johnson, Taliaferro, Warren, Washington and Wilkes Counties. Periods of snow could be moderate to heavy at times with total accumulations of 1 to 3 inches possible. Light sleet and freeing rain will be possible in portions of east central Georgia late Tuesday night.
It’s expected to be bitterly cold tonight, with temperatures plunging into the low 20s. The wind chill will make it feel like the temperatures are in the teens.
The CSRA is not expecting any precipitation on Monday, just very cold temperatures.
All eyes are on the weather for Tuesday, when snow is expected to arrive sometime in the afternoon with dangerously low temperatures. For now, the Augusta area is expected to get about an inch of snow, but southern counties such as Burke, Emanuel , Allendale and Bamberg could get anywhere from 1 to 3 inches.
One thing forecasters agree on at this point is anything we get could linger for a day or two based on the low temperatures.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp said Saturday the state is closely monitoring the weather and officials are already making preparations for the winter weather.
Snow and Bitterly Cold Weather in the Forecast has Schools Monitoring
Area schools system including Richmond, Columbia and Aiken Counties have announced they will be closely monitoring forecasts. Monday is a federal holiday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, so students are out of school, but officials say Tuesday could become a Learn From Home Day if the need arises. Officials in those school systems have said they will make an announcement about Tuesday classes by 5 pm Monday.
Georgia DOT Has Started Brining East-Central Routes
Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) crews have already started applying brine solution to interstates, state routes, bridges, and overpasses in east-central Georgia in anticipation of freezing rain, sleet, ice and snow.
They started brining operations this morning on I-20, I-520, and I-16.
“Because of the large area that could be impacted, our highest priorities are I-20, I-16, and Bobby Jones Expressway, followed by high-priority multi-lane state routes, including US 1, US 25, US 441, and SR 540. Our goal is to brine as many state route lanes miles as possible before the event begins,” according to a news release from GDOT.
GDOT officials ask drivers to be aware of the brine trucks and know they must travel 40 mph to properly apply the treatment. Drivers are asked to stay back at least 100 feet.
